Samb keeps third-placed Gzira in title race

In an even first half full of intensity but little incident, Tarxien managed to take the lead on the half hour through their Brazilian forward Ricardo Faria but Gzira equalised in added time with an Amadou Samb penalty.

The second half was equally devoid of goalmouth action but Gzira capitalised from some sloppy Tarxien defending on set pieces and scored two late goals to win without really impressing.

Each team introduced a new player. Among their many changes, following defeat against Birkirkara, Gzira gave a start to Edison Zarate, who joined them from Mosta but is no new face to Maltese football.

Roderick Briffa and Amadou Samb returned from suspension, but Zach Scerri and Ndubisi Okoye were both missing for the same reason.

Tarxien meanwhile had Serbian defender, the 20-year-old Stefan Radovanovic making his debut for them as left back. They had Sean Cipriott and Ebiabowe Baker missing through suspension.

Gzira only threatened through set piece in the first half, with Cohen’s free kicks that failed to be productive.

After four minutes, he clipped the Tarxien bar with his inswinging free kick from the left, before going close with another floating kick on 20 minutes. Macedo Neto failed to put his header on target from another Cohen delivery seven minutes later.

But the goal came on the other end when, on the half hour, Ricardo Faria caught Gzira’s defence napping as he raced towards goal. His pass towards Dieye was cleared short by Gatt Baldacchino, steering the ball in the path of Faria, who was quick to hit past keeper Haber and give Tarxien the lead.

Gzira looked frustrated and also had a Moises Perez goal disallowed for a foul on the Traxien keeper, following another Cohen free kick.

With halftime looming and Tarxien showing more confidence, Faria again forced keeper Haber to save his shot into a corner.

Cohen was also involved when Gzira wiped out Tarxien’s lead in the half’s added time, when awarded a penalty, after Spiteri had felled the midfielder inside the Tarxien area. Amadou Samb restored equilibrium depite keeper Chetcuti had almost held out his effort from the spot.

Tarxien kept up their fighting spirit even in the second half. Staying composed they loked menacing in flashes, with Gzira keeper Haber rushing off his line to block at Dieye’s feet. Azzopardi’s shot on the turn, past the hour, narrowly missed the target.

With Gzira looking hardly dangerous, it was quite surprising that they went ahead on 72 minutes. Some slack defending by the Rainbows, following a corner from the left, allwed Amadou Samb to head in from close range.

And there was to be only one outcome when ten minutes later, substitute Nikolai Muscat made it 3-1 for the Maroons, with a direct free kick from the edge of the area, after Tarxien defender Mitrev was also sent off for his second bookable offence.

Photo: James Galea