Balzan add to Dingli's misery

Balzan Youths 2
Shead 95; Zammit 107 pen.
Dingli Swallows 1
Conceicao 98

Dingli Swallows' miserable season continued yesterday when the Premier League strugglers crashed out of the U*Bet FA Trophy after succumbing 2-1 to Balzan Youths in extra-time at the Hibs Stadium.

It was a merited victory for the Division One outfit who showed the better ideas throughout.

Dingli's Brazilian midfielder Andre Rocha Da Silva failed to recover from the injury he suffered against Valletta but defender Renato Conceicao started the match after shaking off an ankle problem. Utility player Kevin Borg was out with a foot injury.

It was Balzan who threatened first when, on 11 minutes, Glenn Tanti's close-range shot was somehow kept out by Dingli goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.

Six minutes later, Joseph Okonkwo forced his way into the area and shot at goal despite the dogged marking of Balzan defender Clint Micallef but the Nigerian's effort was pushed away by goalkeeper Joshua Galea.

On 21 minutes, Okonkwo picked out Dingli's Clint Caruana just outside the area but his rising effort finished just over. At the other end, Simon Shead's long-range drive missed the target.

The match remained evenly poised but scoring chances were at a premium as both sides lacked incisiveness in front of goal.

The next scoring opportunity arrived three minutes from half-time and Balzan were unlucky not to forge ahead. Peter Anizoba ran clear on the right flank before sending a precise low ball towards Shead whose shot looked destined to hit the back of the net but Dino Cachia was on the right spot to clear the ball off the line.

After the change of ends, the match remained devoid of constructive football. On 55 minutes, Dingli coach Jesmond Zammit withdrew Haruna Doda and Clint Caruana in favour of Dylan Zarb and Etienne Farrugia in a bid to infuse some creativity into his team.

However, we had to wait until the 75th minute for the next scoring opportunity and, again, it was Balzan who came agonisingly close to taking the lead. Tanti put Shead through on goal but the Youths forward's chip missed the target by a whisker.

Nine minutes from time, Dingli substitute Azzopardi did well to race past his marker before sending a teasing cross towards Okonkwo who failed to make contact with the ball from a central position.

Balzan were quick to respond as Tanti fed Anizoba whose stinging drive was pushed away for a corner by Farrugia.

Despite this late flurry of chances, the stalemate prevailed and the game went into extra-time. Dingli threatened to open the scoring when Zarb fed Azzopardi whose angled drive was pushed away by Galea.

However, it was Balzan who struck on 95 minutes when Clayton Caruana put Shead clean through and the speedy forward rammed the ball past Farrugia.

Dingli only took three minutes to equalise. Zarb delivered a good cross from a free-kick and Conceicao's backheader surprised Balzan keeper Galea.

But, Balzan were not to be denied. They scored the winning goal two minutes into the second half of extra-time after being awarded a penalty for Roderick Briffa's foul on the goalbound Shead.

Veteran Ivan Zammit stepped up for the penalty kick and sent the ball past the diving Farrugia.

Dingli were unlucky not to set up a penalty shoot-out in stoppage time when Conceicao's free-kick hit the upright.

Balzan breathed a sigh of relief as seconds later the referee blew the final whistle.

Balzan Youths: J. Galea, C. Micallef, J. Francica, R. Farrugia, D. Agius, S. Aquilina, G. Tanti ('87 I. Zammit), M. Sciortino ('57 C. Caruana), D. Fenech ('69 A. Agius), P. Anizoba, S. Shead.

Dingli Swallows: J. Farrugia, R. Briffa, C. Caruana ('55 E. Farrugia), R. Conceicao, S. Tellus, R. Spiteri ('63 C. Azzopardi), H. Doda ('55 D. Zarb), K. Formosa, C. Muscat, D. Cachia, J. Okonkwo.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Conceicao; Agius; Briffa; Zarb.