The Malta Independent on Sunday
Valletta gain a point after four consecutive defeats
A goaless draw between Valletta and Gzira United broke negative and positive trends respectively. The Citizens were on a run of four consecutive defeats whereas their opponents Gzira had won their previous four matches.
Darren Abdilla’s boys made great strides in recent matches and apart the twelve points obtained from their last four outings these consisted of amongst others impressive victories over Hibernians and Floriana.
As for Valletta their latest setback against Mosta who a hard pill to swallow and things have to start changing in the other direction so that Thane Micallef’s team will regain the respect that they thoroughly deserve.
A match which resulted in a drab encounter with neither team setting any bushes on fire. In fact the first real action materialized on the half hour mark. It was the Maroons who went near through Toni Kolega but after dazzling around the opposing defence his shot was turned onto a corner.
Just a minute later a long range shot by Brandon Paiber ended wide. And that’s what both teams had to offer in the first forty five minutes.
Two minutes into the second half and Gzira started piling the pressure. A Steve Pisani free kick who directed in the opposing area but Guarnone turned into a corner. From the resultant kick an inswinger by the same Pisani was cleared by the Valletta rearguard.
Just past the hour Valletta responded through Akpoveta but Gzira goalkeeper Darijan Zarkov was on the alert to save his close range shot.
And twenty minutes from the end it was Gzira who went near once again through Toni Kolega only for his shot on the turn to be deflected into a corner.
This was the best patch for the Maroons and three minutes later they had a headed effort by Jefferson which missed the target by a few inches.
On 85 minutes Guarnone saved a Gabriel Bohrer free kick. And just on the stroke of time a Shaun Dimech shot was saved by Zarkov.
In stoppage time Gzira were reduced to ten man after Luis Riascos was sent off for a second bookable offence.