Gzira United returned to winning ways as they defeated Gudja United 3-2 at the National Stadium on Sunday.
Gudja, therefore, suffer a fifth consecutive defeat to stay second from bottom while Gzira close in on the teams fighting for a place in the top six.
The Maroons took the lead on the 17th minute when Maxuell Maia rounded a defender and served Clive Gauci whose assist found Jefferson de Assis in an ideal position to hit low past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.
Two minutes in the second half, Gudja were unlucky to hit the cross bar with a first-time effort by Aidan Friggieri from close range following a cross by Marcelo Dias from the right.
However on the 52nd minute, Gudja took the lead when off a cross by Hubert Vella from the right, substitute Gabriel Mensah anticipated goalkeeper Darijan Radelic Zarkov with his attempt hitting the foot of the upright before ending at the back of the net.
Gzira regained the lead on 66 minutes thanks to a Maxuell Maia da Silva penalty after Yuri Messias was brought down inside the area by Rodolfo Soares.
Three minutes later, Maxuell Maia da Silva made it 3-1 with a fine header off a freekick from the right by Steve Pisani.
Seven minutes from time, Gudja reduced the gap with a Tensior Gusman header following a freekick by Filip Pankarican.