Gudja United came back from a goal down to beat nine-man Senglea Athletic 4-1 at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.
This was the third win in four matches for Josef Mansueto’s side who now share the eighth place with Sliema Wanderers, one point ahead of Birkirkara and Mosta and two ahead of Senglea. For Senglea, on the other hand, this was the fourth defeat in five matches.
Senglea took the lead on the 27th minute thanks to a Gonzalo Nicolas Virano freekick which was deflected by a defender past goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.
However two minutes from the end of the first half, Marko Todorovic committed a foul inside the area, receiving a second yellow card and therefore being sent off; referee Matthew De Gabriele ordered a penalty and Allan Ricardo Miranda converted.
Jan Tanti was unlucky to hit the crossbar for Senglea but on the 63rd minute, they had Marcelo Dias sent off after receiving two yellow cards in five minutes.
Gudja took the lead on the 72nd minute when James Brincat handed the ball to Gabriel Mensah to slot the ball past Matthew Farrugia.
Four minutes later, Mensah returned the compliment with a cross from the right for James Brincat to head home from close range.
On the 90th, Aidan Friggieri hit the upright for Gudja but a minute later, he sent James Brincat through and the latter rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball at the back of the net despite Dejan Debono’s desperate attempt to clear the ball into safety.
GUDJA Jonathan Debono, Jonathan Bondin, Zach Cassar, Aidan Friggieri, Gabriel Mensah, Anderson de Barros, Miguel Jimenez (82′ Jurgen Farrugia), Peter Paul Sammut (51′ James Brincat), Hubert Vella, Juan Andrew Bolanos, Allan Ricardo Miranda.
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Carlos Alexandre Santana, Tariq Al Mahrooqi, Llywelyn Cremona, Justin Grioli.
Coach: Josef Mansueto
Asst. Coach: Thane MicallefSENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Sigtas Olberkis, Dejan Debono, Manolito Micallef (87′ Andrei Spiteri), GOnzalo Nicolas Virano (46′ Jan Tanti), Taisei Marukawa, Marko Todorovic, Anderson Carneiro do Nascimento, Justin Micallef (75′ Leighton Grech), Marcelo Dias.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Connor Zammit, Karl Pulo, David Xuereb.
Coach: Steven Vella
Goalkeepers Coach: Mario MuscatReferee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Mitcjell Scerri, Duncan Spencer
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow Cards: Sammut, Todorovic, Friggieri, Miranda, Debono, Bondin, Dias, Mensah, Vella
Red Cards: 43′ Marko Todorovic, 63′ Marcelo Dias
BOV Player of the Match: Gabriel MensahAttendance: 374