Gzira United moved second three points behind leaders Floriana thanks to a 3-0 win over rivals Hamrun Spartans at the National Stadium on Monday.

Gzira therefore returned to winning ways following a 0-2 defeat to Hibernians in their last outing. They now lie one point ahead of Hibernians and two ahead of Valletta. Hamrun, on the other hand, have now gone seven matches without a win to remain ninth on eighteen points.

Making his debut for Gzira was former Hamrun Spartans striker Wilfried Domoraud.

The Maroons took the lead on the 17th minute when off a Wilfried Domoraud cross from the left, Hamed Kone’s header hit the crossbar before ending at the back of the net. 

On the 35th, Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares had a shot at point blocked by Haber. One minute later, off a cross by Sacha Borg from the left, Andrew Cohen’s header was turned into a corner by Manuel Bartolo. Five minutes from the end of the first half, a freekick by Kone from the right ended just over the bar. In a swift counter-attack for Gzira on the 42nd, Samb served Domoraud, who however, hit high.

Four minutes in the second half, Clayton Failla was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a direct freekick. However, on the 58th minute, Gzira almost doubled the score when Amadou Samb rounded Bartolo who had rushed to the edge of the area and hit low but his goal-bound shot from the left was cleared off the goal line by Darren Borg.

Gzira doubled the score on the 68th minute when Hamed Kone served Martin Davis on the right and the latter’s diagonal shot beat goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.

Eight minutes from time, Wilfried Domoraud made it 3-0 as he headed the ball home following a good move by Kone who rounded the goalkeeper on the left before delivering a fine cross.

HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Alessio Capitelli, Andre Scicluna (66’ Conor Borg), Jorge Ailton dos Santos Soares, Clayton Failla (81’ Miguel Tabone), Matthew Gauci, Nicola Leone, Cain Cutajar (78’ Christopher Galea), Darren Borg, Karl Micallef, Mattia Cinquini.
Subs not used: Jean Claude Debattista, Soufiane Lagzir, Valdo Alhinho Goncalves, Kieran Higgans.
Coach: Manuele Blasi

GZIRA Justin Haber, Gianmarco Conti, Nikolai Muscat, Zachary Scerri, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen (61’ Martin Davis), Juan Carlos Corbalan, Hamed Kone (84’ Luca Brincat), Sacha Borg, Amadou Samb, Wilfried Domoraud (87’ Christian Sammut).
Subs not used: Brandon Debono, Soni Hoti, Karl Pulo, Romario Camilleri, Martin Davis.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Theodore Zammit
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Corbalan, Micallef, Gauci, Samb, Soares, Cinquini, Kone
BOV Player of the Match: Hamed Kone
Attendance: 390