Gzira United registered their first win as they defeated Valletta 2-0 at the National Stadium on Saturday.

For Valletta, this was the second consecutive defeat after the 0-3 loss to Floriana while Gzira now stand on five points after the defeat to Hibernians and the draws with Santa Lucia and Sliema Wanderers.

The Maroons had Anthony Curmi and Nevin Portelli replaced Justin Haber and Zach Scerri from the game against Sliema while Valletta had three changes as Michele Sansone, Eslit Sala and Isaiah Micallef were handed a start, replacing Christian Gauci, Joseph Zerafa and Lucas Ribeiro Campos.

Gzira took the lead on the 39th minute when off a Steve Pisani freekick, a Gabriel Bohrer Mentz header was deflected and partially saved by Alessandro Guarnone and Jefferson de Assis hit the foot of the post from close range with the ball bouncing onto the goalkeeper and into the net.

Valletta were reduced to ten men on 65 minutes after Enmy Pena Beltre was sent off for retaliation.

Eleven minutes later, Gzira sealed the issue with a second goal thanks to Thiago Espindola who exchanged the ball with Yuri Messias, beating Guarnone from close range.

• Valletta vs Gzira United match card

VALLETTA Alessandro Guarnone, Ryan Camilleri, Triston Caruana, James Arthur, Michele Sansone, Enmy Pena Beltre, Ivan Curjuric (Kevin Tulimieri 73’), Isaiah Micallef (Shaun Dimech 46’), Eslit Sala, Caio Prado (97-Lucas Ribeiro Campos 73’), Mario Fontanella.
Coach: Antonio Jose Cardoso Mendes

GZIRA Anthony Curmi, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Steve Borg, Nikolai Muscat, Steve Pisani, Martin Davis (Clive Gauci 84’), Nevin Portelli, Maxuell Maia (Yuri Messias 67’), Thiago Espindola, Jefferson de Assis (Emmanuel Mbong 89’), Jackson Mendoza (Luke Tabone 89’).
Coach: Darren Abdilla

Referee: Ishmael Barbara 
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, James Muscat
Fourth Official: Emanuel Grech
Yellow Cards: R. Camilleri, J. Mendoza, S. Pisani, A. Guarnone
Red Cards: 65′ Enmy Pena Beltre
BOV Player of the Match: Jefferson de Assis