Naxxar Lions inflicted a third consecutive league defeat on Gżira United after a dramatic 4–2 victory at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, a result that lifts them to seventh place in the YoHealth Malta Premier Closing Round standings.

Lions Show Resilience

Naxxar made the brighter start and went ahead on 18 minutes when Vitinho unleashed a powerful drive that left goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo with no chance.

Gżira almost responded on 32 minutes, but Maxuel Maia’s first-time effort drifted just wide with Matthias Debono beaten.

The Maroons improved after the interval and drew level on the hour mark, Maia heading home from close range. They even turned the game around shortly afterwards when Johan Bonilla set up André Carlos for a simple finish to make it 2–1.

However, Naxxar refused to buckle. Gabriel Costa restored parity on 68 minutes with a close-range header, before Louis Pahama fired the Lions back in front three minutes later with a firm strike from the edge of the area.

Gżira thought they had equalised when Maia finished from close in, but the goal was ruled out for a foul. Pahama then sealed the win deep into stoppage time, surging forward and drilling home Naxxar’s fourth.

Spoils Shared at Birkirkara

In the day’s other match, Sliema Wanderers rescued a 1–1 draw against Birkirkara thanks to a second-half equaliser from Gustavo Alcino.

Birkirkara had taken the lead on 29 minutes through Jacques Bayo’s angled drive, and the result keeps them unbeaten under coach Paul Zammit, while doing little to advance Sliema’s Top 6 ambitions.

The draw leaves the race for the upper half finely poised as the Closing Round continues to gather momentum.