Gżira end on a high
Gżira United beat St Andrews to end the season on a high and now catch their opponents on 37 points in the standings.
With nothing tangible to play for, it proved to be an entertaing fare that produced five goals and some flowing football to confirm both sides’ positive season in which both achieved their objectives.
Following a poor first round that yielded them only nine points, Andrew Cohen’s acquisition, and some changes in their foreign personnel, in the January transfer market helped improve the newly promoted club’s situation by the turn of the New Year. The 4-3 win against Floriana at the end of January, triggered Gżira’s revival following three consecutive defeats. Three wins on the trot, against St Andrews, Tarxien Rainbows and Hamrun Spartans, interrupted by a defeat against Sliema and followed by two consecutive wins against bottom sides Mosta and Pembroke, enabled them to take a good haul of 15 points from seven matches in February and March and eventually secured survival.
The turn of year also saw a gradual turn of fortune for St Andrews and with the young Aiden Friggieri joining from Sliema, the Saints enhanced their chances of retaining their Premier League status. Following a 1-1 draw with Valletta in late January, the Saints lost only four times, against Hibernians, Gżira, Sliema and Balzan, during a stretch of 11 matches between February and early April.
Both their Doncic and coaches, Darren Danilo Abdilla surely deserve great praise for the evolution of their teams this season, considering the limited resources. Gżira coach Abdilla merited a nomination in the shortlist for the season’s awards.
Nenad Belasevic was suspended for St Andrews yesterday, but Ziga Kastrevec returned in attack and Bong Che regained his place after missing the previous match. The young Duncan Formosa replaced regular Jake Grech in goal as captain Joseph Farrugia sat on the bench.
Gżira made no less than six changes to the side that drew with Birkirkara on the penultimate day, with a completely reshuffled defence including keeper Anthony Curmi, Jacob Borg, Souleymane Diamoutene, Andre White and Karl Pulo.
Except for the goal they conceded past the quarter hour, all the chances in the opening half belonged to St Andrews.
From a Paz corner, Kesinovic had already tested keeper Curmi with a firm header turned into a corner.
After falling behind, the Saints threatened for an equaliser. On 22 minutes, Kastrevec’s low shot was held out by the Gzira keeper and a minute later Friggieri hit the woodwork with his effort.
Their perseverance was rewarded on the stroke of halftime. Friggieri robbed Diamoutene of possession outside the area on the right, played a pass back to Ziga Kastrevec to shoot low, with the ball hitting the innerside of the post before crossing the line.
Defender Beltre’ was already forced to leave the pitch with injury shortly before the equaliser. The Saints were also forced to replace Friggieri early in the second half with a foot injury.
Gżira regained the lead on 68 minutes. Pulo’s cross from the left fell to Ige Adeshina who headed past the rooted keeper from close range.
The Saints again restored equilibrium six minutes later. Substitute Brandle advanced unhindered down the right and crossed inside the Gżira area. Other substitute Jakob Walker reached for the ball before Borg and bundled it over the line after failing to connect with his head.
St Andrews went close on a couple of occasions. A Paz shot was held out by keeper Curmi, who was also well placed when Walker tried to lob over on a Paz pass.
But Gżira scored the winner six minutes from normal time, also through substitute Emerson Amaira who beat keepe Formosa with a glancing header on a Cohen sailing free kick.
Conti also clipped the bar from a distance in added time and that added to the entertainment provided on the night.
P W D L F A Pts Hibernians 32 21 5 6 58 30 68 Balzan 32 19 7 6 65 38 64 Valletta 32 16 11 5 50 27 59 Birkirkara 32 17 8 7 62 29 59 Floriana 32 15 9 8 50 35 54 Sliema 32 14 7 11 45 36 49 Gżira 33 10 7 16 43 51 37 St. Andrews 33 9 10 14 45 51 37 Tarxien 32 8 11 13 37 42 35 Hamrun 32 8 6 18 42 60 30 Mosta 32 6 5 21 25 69 18 Pembroke 32 4 6 22 26 80 17 Mosta - 5 points