Narrow win for Gzira

Gzira United had to fight harder than expected to beat bottom club Lija Athletic 3-2 in yesterday’s only Premier League clash – the last of the first batch in the 2nd round.

The three points enabled the Maroons to move alongside Valletta on 30 points, in joint second place, just one point behind league leaders Balzan.

The Maroons took an early 2-0 lead with goals from E. Okoye (8th) and G. Muir (12th), but Lija fought back to equalise by the 30th minute.

E. Beu converted a penalty on 16 minutes and R. Kooh then scored the leveller on 30 minutes.

It was Andrew Cohen who put Gzira in the lead again on 63 minutes. It proved to be the winner. Gzira U: J. Haber, R. Briffa, A. Cohen, N. Okoye, A. Samb, A. Macedo, S. Diamoutene, Z. Scerri, S. Borg, N. Muscat, G. Muir Subs: A. Curmi, C. Sammut, L. Brincat, S. Ogundare, A. White, S. Kaman. C. Gatt Baldacchino Lija A: L. Bonnici, P. Babic, P. Borg, D. Scerri, L. Muscat, L. Schembri, R. Kooh Sohna, A. Galea, C. Cassar (A. Sammut), E. Beu, D. Leeflang Subs: J. Martinelli, D. Agius, J. Desmond, A. Caruana, G. Borg, A. Sammut, N. Spiteri Referee: J. Utulu Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista 4th official: P. Farrugia Balzan Valletta Gzira Floriana Hibernians Sliema Hamrun Birkirkara Senglea A. Mosta Naxxar Lions St. Andrews Tarxien Lija Athletic 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 9 9 9 7 7 7 7 7 4 4 2 3 3 1 4 1 23 10 31 3 2 23 6 30 3 2 32 17 30 5 2 28 10 26 3 4 21 9 24 3 4 20 12 24 2 5 23 15 23 1 6 17 16 22 3 7 15 19 15 3 7 16 27 15 4 8 14 24 10 1 10 13 31 10 1 10 15 37 10 2 11 16 43 5