BALZAN-2, MELITA-1
Balzan scored a stoppage-time winner as they came from behind to beat Melita in an entertaining game that produced three goals and countless misses, with Balzan hitting the woodwork three times in the second half.
Pedrinho's late strike earned Balzan their second win and left Melita, who had been the better team, in the first half, anchored to the bottom of the table with one point from seven matches.It was Melita who created the first chance after six minutes.
Jovan Vukanic played an inviting cross from the right and Luis Negrin produced an acrobatic flick that was turned away by Fredick Tabon, the Balzan goalkeeper.Melita remained the better side.
Luke Micallef, running on to a through-ball from midfield, advanced towards the box and swept past on-rushing Tabone. Micallef looked certain to score but his low shot was cleared off the line by Yessous Camilleri.
Another chance came Melita's way when Julian Galea headed just wide from Vukanic's cross.Balzan fashioned their first attempt when Matthew Mendy passed to Pedrinho but the Brazilian's effort was blocked.In their next attack, Melita took the lead.
The game was 18 minutes old when Negrin advanced into the box from the left before hitting a cross-shot that Jamie Pace, the Balzan midfielder, turned into his own net in an attempt to clear.Balzan looked stunned.
Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho met Vukanic's set-piece cross but his header went wide. Ivan Zammit's team gained much-needed boost in the form of a 33rd-minute equaliser. Elton laid the ball back for Martin Deanov who beat Matthew Sapiano with a first-time shot.Eight minutes from half-time, Balzan survived a scare. Negrin pounced on Camilleri's short backheader to Tabone but the latter reacted quickly to close down Melita's Spanish striker.
Balzan showed signs of improvement in the closing stages of the first half. Camilleri headed home from Dylan Grima's free-kick but his effort was chalked off for offside.
In first-half stoppage time, Melita wasted a glorious chance to regain their lead. Nigel Rizzo's through-ball released Negrin who ran clear of the Balzan defenders but the Spaniard dithered as he came face to face with Tabone who managed to clear the danger.
Two minutes past the hour, Renie Forace's dipping cross-shot sailed towards goal but the ball hit the crossbar.The woodwork again thwarted Balzan as Matthew Mendy's header from Pedrinho's free-kick cannoned off the crossbar.
Incredibly, Balzan hit the woodwork for the third time on 69 minutes. Pedrinho's through-pass sent Deanov through and the Bulgarian floated the ball over Sapiano and towards the unmarked Forace who sent his header against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Undeterred, Balzan continued to push forward in search of a second goal. With 12 minutes left,, Balzan thought they had scored when substitute Christian Caruana guided an excellent pass to Pedrinho who fired a ferocious volley with the outside of his boot but Sapiano produced a a brilliant save to push away the Brazilian's effort.
Amid the ensuing melee, the Melita goalkeeper, under pressure from Forace, was adjudged to have collected a backpass from a defender and Balzan were awarded a free-kick just outside the six-yard box. The 11 Melita players stood on the goal-line as Pedrinho prepared to take the free-kick which was eventually blocked by Matthew Borg.
Balzan were again denied by Sapiano who touched away Pedrinho's free-kick and, seven minutes from time, stopped Elton's grounder with his feet.Pedrinho was slightly off target with a diagonal shot.
Melita had been second best for most of the second half but, in an exciting finale, they threatened to sneak a winner.
Camilleri, the Balzan defender, deflected Galea's fierce shot onto the crossbar and, from the ensuing action, Grima tripped Melita forward just inside the box. Davey pointed to the spot but Tabone saved Balzan by keeping out Vukanic's penalty.
Reprieved, Balzan went up at the other end and scored the winner courtesy of man-of-the-match Pedrinho's brilliant finish.