The Malta Independent on Sunday
Newcomers need to raise the bar
League.
The match was played with great endeavour but lacked quality in the final third.
It was a match of two halves. Gzira had the edge in the firts 45 minutes and took a deserve lead through Tony Machedo Neto.
After a flat first-half performance, Hamrun improved in the second period and managed to draw level, by Jorginho, one of their two new Brazilians which were introduced as the match progressed.
A draw was a fair result in the final analysis.
Both teams had encouraging starts to the new season. Hamrun beat Hibernians and Gzira drew with Tarxien Rainbows. So both coaches felt the obligation to leave their teams unchanged.
They began in understandably cagey mode, the focus on organisation only interrupted after 13 minutes when Ledesma found space inside the Hamrun rearguard and his attempted audacious effort was deflected against the upright and into a corner.
It took the teams some time to combine with any other real menace. Towards the half hour, an erratic square pass by Gatt Baldacchino allowed Spiteri to advance through the middle but he shot wide.
On 37 minutes Gzira, who had been showing more enterprise, deservedly took the lead. Borg’s powerful shot from a distance was tipped into a corner by the Hamrun shot stopper. From the resultant Ledesma corner, Tony Neto hit the ball in from close range.
Besides falling behind, Ham- run were also forced to substitute the injured Patrick Texeira with other Brazilian Mesqueu Neto Jorge (Jorginho). Ryan Spiteri took a wider role as the substitute played in front of the defence.
Hamrun tried to challenge Gzira to break them down after the interval. They put in Leandro Motta for Spiteri on 56 min- utes and Chircop stung keeper Jurgen Borg’s palm with a powerful shot. Another Mifsud Triganza free kick was held out by the outstretched Gzira keeper.
Gzira were clinging on, penned inside their half and threatening with fast breaks. But Robert De Pinho looked too isolated up front.
Hamrun’s substitutes combined well on 66 minutes for the equalising goal. Motta delivered a free kick from the right for Jorginho to score with a firm header.
Gzira substituted De Pinho with John Nwoba after that. Nevertheless, Hamrun still slightly held the upperhand although both sides looked happy with a draw. A point apiece leaves them both unbeaten so far.