BOV Premier League | Gżira United 3 – Lija Athletic 2

Gżira United are on level points with Valletta after securing a hard fought 3-2 win over Lija Athletic.

Photo: Dominic Borg
Photo: Dominic Borg

The Maroons went ahead after eight minutes. Amadou Samb went on a good run down the left flank before delivering the ball towards Emmanuel Okoye who finished home from close range.

Gżira added another goal three minutes later. Okoye served Gary Muir and the latter placed the ball inside the net.

Lija pulled one back on the 16th minute . Tony De Queiroz Machedo Neto fouled Erjon Beu inside the penalty area and the referee signalled towards the spot. Beu himself took charge of the spot kick and managed to convert.

Joseph Galea’s side equalised on the half hour mark. Raphael Kooh Sohna fired a low shot that gave Justin Haber no chance.

Despite Lija’s efforts, Gżira scored the winning goal on the 63rd minute. Samb delivered the ball towards Andrew Cohen whose low shot went past Haber.

Gżira United starting line-up: Justin Haber, Roderick Briffa, Andrew Cohen, Emmanuel Okoye, Amadou Samb, Tony De Queiroz Machedo Neto, Souleymane Diamoutene, Zachary Scerri, Sacha Borg, Nicky Muscat, Gary Muir

Lija Athletic starting line-up: Luke Bonnici, Predrag Babic, Patrick Borg, Daniel Scerri, Leon Muscat, Leejoe Schembri, Rafael Kooh Sohna, Aiden Galea, Carl Cassar, Erjon Beu, Djamel Leeflang

Referee: Jude Admin Utulu

Assistant Referees:Jurgen Spiteri, William Debattista

Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia

BOV Player of the Match: Emmanuel Okoye (Gżira United)