Balzan 2
Deanov 33; Pedrinho 90+;
Melita 1
Pace 18 og;
After hitting the woodwork three times in the second half, Balzan would have been forgiven if they thought that the footballing gods had conspired against them as, in the dying stages, Melita won a penalty.
As Balzan’s heads dropped, Jovan Vukanic, one of the most effective players when Melita enjoyed the upperhand in the first half, drove his spot-kick low to the right but Frederick Tabone denied him with a fine save.
In next to no time, it was Balzan who were celebrating an unlikely winner as the gifted Pedrinho had the better of the defiant Matthew Sapiano with a crisp finish.
This extraordinary turnaround brought an end to an entertaining encounter which resembled a relegation thriller as Balzan and Melita were both eager to gain the three points in order to improve their lowly positions in the table.
As it turned out, it was Balzan who had the last laugh and they deserved their win on the back of their second-half showing.
Balzan would have been home and dry were it not for the woodwork but they were perhaps fortunate to start the second half on equal terms as the Amateurs had spurned some inviting openings with Luis Jose Armaro Negrin the main culprit.
Pedrinho’s late strike gave Balzan back-to-back wins for the first time this season while Melita remain bottom of the table with one point.
Tabone deputised for the injured Matthew Camilleri in Balzan’s goal while Martin Deanov received Ivan Zammit’s nod ahead of Christian Caruana.
The presence of four attack-minded players in Balzan’s selection – Deanov, Elton, Pedrinho and Dylan Grima – indicated Zammit’s intent to press from the front.
Melita coach Martin Gregory went for 4-1-4-1 with the returning Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho sitting in front of defence and Negrin filling the lone striker’s role.
Matthew Borg replaced Karl Vella Petroni for the Amateurs.
Melita were first to threaten. The game was six minutes old when Vukanic delivered an inviting centre from the right and Negrin produced an acrobatic flick that forced Tabone into a fine save.
Encouraged by their positive start, Melita maintained their momentum. It was not long before they fashioned another good opportunity when Luke Micallef advanced unimpeded and evaded the challenge of the on-rushing Tabone. He looked odds-on to score but his grounder was cleared off the line by Yessous Camilleri.
With Balzan labouring to find a modicum of fluidity in their play, Melita stayed in control. They went close again on 14 minutes but Julian Galea headed just wide from another Vukanic centre.
Balzan created their first attempt when Matthew Mendy set up Pedrinho but the Brazilian’s effort was blocked.
In their next attack, Melita drew first blood. Negrin was the architect as the Spanish striker hit a dangerous cross-shot and Jamie Pace turned the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear.
Melita’s constant pressing all over the pitch made it difficult for Balzan to make headway in attack.
Sierra Camacho was first to Vukanic’s set-piece cross but his header was wide. Balzan needed their creative elements to produce a moment of magic and this was provided by Deanov on 33 minutes.
Lurking near the byline on the left, Elton floated a cross into the area but the ball was deflected towards Deanov who unleashed a first-time volley that gave Sapiano no chance.
Eight minutes from half-time, Balzan were let off the hook. Camilleri’s short backheader was intercepted by Negrin but the Balzan keeper reacted quickly to nudge the ball away from the Melita striker.
After their shaky start, Balzan settled as the end of the first half approached. Their revival was instigated by the improved movement of their forwards.
In first-half stoppage time, Melita squandered an ideal chance to restore their lead as Nigel Rizzo supplied a through-ball to Negrin who raced clear of the stationary Balzan defenders but lost composure as he came face to face with Tabone who cleared the danger.
At the other end, Elton ran past a posse of Melita players to force his way into the box but Sapiano rushed out to belt the ball away.
Bjorn Bondin made way for Stefan Giglio after half-time.
As in the opening stages of the match, Melita took their game to Balzan after the restart but the latter seized the initiative as the second half progressed.
Two minutes past the hour, Renie Forace angled a dipping cross-shot towards goal with the ball coming off the crossbar.
The woodwork again denied Balzan as Mendy’s header from Pedrinho’s free-kick rattled the post. Pace did well to reach Giglio’s long ball midway through the half but his volley was too weak.
Moments later, Balzan were once again left to rue their ill-luck as, for the third time, they hit the goal frame.
Pedrinho’s pass sent Deanov through and the Bulgarian lifted the ball over Sapiano and towards the unmarked Forace who headed against the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Melita sighed with relief but their defence was creaking. With 12 minutes remaining, Balzan thought they had scored when substitute Christian Caruana floated an excellent pass to Pedrinho who unleashed a ferocious volley but Sapiano pulled off a brilliant save.
Amid the ensuing melee, the Melita goalkeeper was adjudged to have collected a backpass from a defender and Irish referee Andrew Davey awarded Balzan a free-kick just outside the six-yard box.
Melita crowded their goal-line as Pedrinho shaped up to shoot. His effort was blocked by Borg.
Balzan turned the screw but were denied by Sapiano from efforts by Pedrinho and Elton.
The drama continued as Melita, outplayed for much of the second half, came agonisingly close to taking the lead. Camilleri deflected Galea’s humdinger onto the crossbar and, from the ensuing action, Grima brought down the Melita forward just inside the box.
Davey pointed to the spot but Tabone rescued Balzan by repelling Vukanic’s penalty. Balzan went up at the other end and struck the winner courtesy of Pedrinho who was set up by Caruana.
Balzan
F. Tabone-7, R. Conceicao-6, Y. Camilleri-6.5, R. Forace-6.5, M. Mendy-6 (81 A. Agius), B. Bondin-5 (46 S. Giglio-6), J. Pace-6, D. Grima-6, Pedrinho-7.5, M. Deanov-7 (71 C. Caruana), Elton-6.5.
Melita
M. Sapiano-7.5, M. Borg-6, I. Tufegdzic-6.5, G. Gribbon-6, M.R. Sierra Camacho-5.5, N. Rizzo-5, J. Galea-6.5, M. Martin-6 (65 M. Valenzia-5), L. Micallef-5 (73 K. Micallef), J. Vukanic-6.5, L. Negrin-5.5.
Referee: Andrew Davey (N. Ireland).
Yellow cards: Martin; Borg; Sapiano; Grima.
Missed penalty: Vukanic (M) 90.
BOV player of the match: Pedrinho (Balzan).
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 19 |
| Birkirkara | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6 | 16 |
| Hibernians | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 12 | 15 |
| Sliema W. | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 13 |
| Mosta | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 12 |
| Tarxien R. | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Floriana | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Balzan | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 7 |
| Qormi | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 7 |
| Ħamrun S. | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 18 | 7 |
| Rabat Ajax | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 2 |
| Melita | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 1 |