Sliema and Balzan share the spoils

SLIEMA W 1 BALZAN Y 1

Sliema Wanderers and Balzan Youths shared the points in a drab encounter. Fans who hoped of a repeat of the breathless goalfest of last March 19 were to be sadly disappointed. Instead they saw a drab draw with little excitement.

The Wanderers were only looking dangerous on set-pieces with defenders Gatt Baldacchino and Mifsud both sending in dangerous headers from corners in quick succession after 16 minutes.

Nine minutes later, Cilia ran clear on the right and cut the ball for Anicef Eyenga who hit a strong drive that brushed the upright.

The Wanderers picked up the pace immediately in the second half but they were initially thrown off-balance by an early Balzan move when Micallef was sent racing through on goal after a clever flick by Ciantar. The striker who seeing Curmi out of his goal, tried to bend the ball into the far corner, only for the goalkeeper to leap to his left and tip it wide.

In the 53rd minute, Eyenga sliced a ball across the face of goal. On the other side, Ciantar's effort from just outside the area flashed just wide with Curmi helplessly rooted to the spot.

Just before the hour mark, Pedrinho stormed his way towards the edge of the box and the Brazilian was hacked down in the box by Gatt Baldacchino. The Brazilian picked himself up to crash an unstoppable shot past Curmi.

Halfway through the second half, Doncic was forced to take the desperate measure of a double substitution, with Fenech and Alex Muscat replacing Grech and Beppe Muscat respectively.

Few moments later, Balzan were reduced to 10-men when Micallef was shown a straight red card for passing remarks.

And Anicef Eyenga exacted adequate punishment by running on to Muscat's cross to head home the equaliser seven minutes remaining.