Kone brace puts Gżira in second place

BIRKIRKARA              1 Falcone 84 pen. GŻIRA UNITED          3 Kone 9, 76 Cohen 90 Gżira United notched their third win in a row after beating a lacklustre Birkirkara side 3-1. Giovanni Tedesco’s men are doing enormous progress after their slow start to the season as they are now in second place, four points behind leaders Floriana. Hamed Kone was Gżira’s hero with two goals, one in each half, as he opened his Premier League account. Gżira may not have had a lot of possession, but their organisational play denied Birkirkara any clear-cut chances. In fact, the Stripes created numerous chances but could only beat Justin Haber from the spot late in the game. But despite their late rally they could not rescue at least a point. Gżira United could not ask for a better start when Hamed Kone hit a curling effort that flew past Andrew Hogg to send the Maroons one up after nine minutes. Moments later, Jefferson squandered the chance to double the score, when he rounded Hogg but his shot from tight angle sailed over. Birkirkara’s reply came through Miguel Alba but the former Valletta player failed to test Haber. The Argentine midfielder set himself up with another long-range effort, but...