Gudja United and Marsaxlokk clashed in an exciting match that ended in a 1-1 draw, featuring all the action in the first half.

Gudja seized the initiative early on as they opened the scoring in the tenth minute. Abou Toure showcased his scoring prowess when he expertly received a well-timed pass from Gabriel Mensah. Toure deftly evaded the charge of Marsaxlokk’s goalkeeper, Marko Drobnjak, and calmly slotted the ball into the net, marking his debut goal in the Maltese Premier League.

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The Gudja forward found himself with an opportunity once more shortly afterward, but Drobnjak was there to prevent the Senegalese attacker from taking another shot at the goal.

However, the first half wasn’t short of excitement for both teams. In the 45th minute, just before the halftime whistle, Marsaxlokk were awarded a penalty when Anthony Obonogwu’s header made slight contact with the hand of a Gudja defender. Yuri De Jesus Messias took on the responsibility from the 11-meter mark, and he didn’t falter, finding the net and equalizing the score.

As the match continued, the players continued to display their skill and determination. In the 72nd minute, Nikolai Muscat of Marsaxlokk attempted a powerful long-range shot from outside the box, narrowly missing the target.

A few minutes later, substitute Sean Cipriott for Gudja played a good through pass to Abou Toure in the box, but it was well anticipated by Drobnjak.

With just three minutes remaining, a corner favoring Marsaxlokk created chaos in Gudja’s penalty area. The ensuing scramble concluded with a shot from Yuri Messias, which went wide, leaving the score unchanged.

The final whistle confirmed the 1-1 draw, a result that allowed both Gudja United and Marsaxlokk to maintain their unbeaten records after the first two matches of the championship. Marsaxlokk now find themselves in fourth place in the league standings. Gudja United, on the other hand, earned their second point in the league after a previous draw against Mosta.

Looking ahead, both teams are poised to continue their campaigns in the upcoming week. Both teams will play again in the middle of the week, with Marsaxlokk meeting Sirens on Wednesday, and Gudja facing Ħamrun Spartans also on Wednesday.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann