Balzan salvage a draw after fight-back against Floriana

Balzan Youths 2 Floriana 2

Miguel Ciantar inspired a Balzan fight-back to earn a point against Floriana this afternoon.

Ciantar was introduced in the 75th minute with the score 2-0 and Floriana looking strong. By the final whistle the U21 striker had scored two goals and lifted the quality and confidence of a team that they lost 4-0 against Birkirkara last week.

Balzan made an energetic start. Martin Deanov tested waters with an angled drive that posed no trouble to Manuel Bartolo. Yet, that did not stop Floriana from taking the lead albeit against the run of play through Joseph Borg with a gem of a goal.

In the 25 thminute, Woods headed a Doffo free-kick into the path of Borg who hooked in an overhead kick from close range.

Floriana could have been two up within 10 minutes from restart. Grabowski raced clear down the right but with Woods screaming the Swedish winger went alone and blazed out.

The Greens doubled their advantage in the 70th minute, when Mintoff's cross flew in off the shoulder of Alandson. However, Zammit who threw on Miguel Ciantar, enjoyed a spectacular reversal of fortune when the nippy striker made an immediate as he found the perfect timing to resolve a goal mouth scramble with his first touch of the ball.

In the same action, the Greens suffered adouble blow when the goalkeeper Bartolo was sent off after barging into Nikola Tasic in a tussle to collect the ball from the net.

Three minutes from time, Floriana thought they escaped unscathed when Balzan failed to press home their numerical advantage as Ciantar sawred for a second bookable offence following a clumsy challenge on Mintoff. Yet, the Youths were not to be undone and equalised with virtually the last kick of the match.