Substitute Ciantar denies Greens with late goals

Balzan Youths 2
Ciantar 75, 90;
Floriana 2
J. Borg 25; Alandson 70;

Super-sub Miguel Ciantar’s huge influence on Balzan Youths was in evidence again yesterday as he took just 15 minutes to inspire a stirring fight-back from two goals down against Floriana to earn his side a priceless point.

Ciantar was introduced with the score 2-0 and Floriana looking strong. By the final whistle the U-21 lad had scored two goals and lifted the quality and confidence of the top-six hopefuls who had lost 4-0 to Birkirkara the previous week.

Balzan coach Ivan Zammit made several changes following that poor showing.

Goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri, Anthony Eviparker and Roderick Farrugia were all dropped to the bench as Pedrinho and Jonathan Francica were ruled out by suspension. Dylan Grima was not available.

On the other hand, Fredrick Tabone, Bjorn Bondin, Glenn Bonello, Jamie Pace and Lydon Micallef were all given the nod to start. Bondin was detailed to provide extra cover in defence in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Micallef being Balzan’s lone forward.

Eric Akoto’s return from suspension enabled coach Michael Woods to switch Pablo Doffo to his favoured midfield position as the Ghana defender partnered Owen Bugeja in defence. Floriana’s 4-2-3-1 formation featured Malcolm Licari as the attacking fulcrum in front of Andre Grabowski, Ivan Woods and John Mintoff.

Balzan made an energetic start. Martin Deanov tested waters with an angled drive that posed no trouble for Manuel Bartolo.

The Bulgarian midfielder turned provider soon after, guiding a through-pass to Micallef who showed quick feet to work his way into a shooting position but he lifted his effort just over the bar.

The Youths were compact and constructive, striving to push forward whenever in possession.

Yet, that did not stop Floriana from taking the lead, albeit against the run of play.

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

Floriana laboured to settle into their usual rhythm as Balzan regained control thanks to some clever passing and movement. Yet they lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

On 40 minutes, a superb long pass by Pace was horribly miscalculated by Akoto, the ball falling into Micallef’s path. The Balzan striker looked certain to score but Bartolo performed a smart save to push away the shot.

Woods’s thoughts on Floriana’s first-half performance were ref-lected in his decision to replace Licari with newcomer Alandson.

Adding impetus to Floriana’s attacking endeavours, the brisk-moving Brazilian made a difference to alter the flow of play.

In fact, Floriana could have been two up within 10 minutes from the restart. Grabowski raced clear down the right but with Woods screaming the winger went alone and blazed out. Another flowing Floriana move unnerved Balzan as Mintoff released Alandson but his shot was neutralised by the keeper.

The Greens, however, doubled their advantage on 70 minutes when Mintoff’s cross flew in off the shoulder of Alandson.

Zammit then introduced Ciantar and what an impact he made.

He soon found the perfect timing to resolve a goalmouth scramble with his first touch of the ball to halve Balzan’s deficit.

And in the same action, the Greens suffered a double blow when 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 ad-vantage as Clifton Ciantar saw red for a second bookable offence.

Yet, the Youths were not to be undone and equalised with virtually the last kick of the match.

The Floriana rearguard dropped their guard as Deanov picked up the ball outside the area and were left stranded when he slipped a through ball to Ciantar on the right. The substitute did the rest when he drilled a low-angled shot past stand-in keeper Juergen Borg.

Balzan Youths
F. Tabone-6 B. Bondin-5.5 (69 A. Eviparker-5), C. Ciantar, B. Guga-6 J. Pace-6 Y. Camilleri-6, R. Forace-5.5, N. Tasic-7, M. Deanov-7, G. Bonello-6 (84 M. Borg), L. Micallef-6.5 (75 M. Ciantar).

Floriana
M. Bartolo, O. Bugeja-5, D. Pisani-5, P. Doffo-6.5, A. Grabowski-5 (65 C. Caruana-4), I. Woods-6 (77 J. Borg), M. Micallef-5.5, J. Mintoff-7.5, J. Borg-6, E. Akoto-5.5, M. Licari-5 (46 Alandson-6).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Bonello, Pace, C. Ciantar, Akoto, Bugeja, J. Borg, Woods, Tasic.

Red cards: Bartolo (F) 76; C. Ciantar (B) 87.

BOV player of the match: Pablo Doffo (Floriana).