Gudja United collected three precious points in the battle against relegation as they came from behind to beat Valletta 4-2 at the Hibernians Stadium on Sunday.

Three points which put Jesmond Zammit in joint-tenth place with Floriana on 27 points, three ahead of Balzan and Zejtun, six ahead of Tarxien and seven ahead of Lija. This was the first win for Gudja in eight matches.

Valletta, on the other hand, stay in joint-sixth place on 33 points.

The Citizens took the lead on the 27th minute when off a freekick by Triston Caruana from the right, Santiago Malano slotted the ball past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

Gudja equalised three minutes in the second half when Elton da Silva served Gabriel Mensah on the left and the latter beat Bonello with a diagonal shot.

Three minutes later, Gudja made it 2-1 thanks to Gabriel Mensah who received a pass, outside the area and with a fine shot beat goalkeeper Bonello.

On the 84th minute, substitute Terence Vella pounced on a mistake by Ivan Maric who stumbled on the ball and lobbed the ball over the Valletta goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, Gudja were awarded a penalty after Eslit Sala brought Terence Vella down inside the area. Referee Emanuel Grech handed Sala a second yellow card and Patrick Silva Mota converted from the penalty spot.

One minute in added time, Valletta reduced the gap thanks to a penalty, converted by Mario Fontanella, after Enmy Pena Bletre was floored inside the area.

VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camilleri, Triston Caruana, Santiago Malano, Matteo Piciollo, Shaun Dimech (81’ Ryan Tonna), Enmy Pena Beltre, Eslit Sala, Wellington de Oliveira (68’ Ryan Fenech), Ivan Maric, Mario Fontanella.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Kenley Scerri, Sheldon Mackay, Kurt Desira, Kieran Paul Fenech.
Coach: Antonio Jose Cardoso Mendes

GUDJA Glenn Zammit, Aidan Friggieri (90’ Jurgen Farrugia), Gabriel Mensah (83’ Terence Vella), Filip Pankarican, Imanol Gonzalez Benac, Elton Alexandre da Silva (70’ James Brincat), Thomas Veronese, Juan Bolanos, Justin Grioli (46’ Llywelyn Cremona), Patrick Silva Mota.
Subs not used: Jamie Azzopardi, Lee Pisani, Timothy Zammit.
Coach: Jesmond Zammit

Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Mark Ciantar
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: Mensah, Sala, Fenech
Red Cards: 87’ Eslit Sala
BOV Player of the Match: Gabriel Mensah