Sliema Wanderers 0
Balzan 1
Negrin 90;

Down to 10 men from the 52nd minute, Balzan's chances of snapping a seven-match losing streak looked slim.

In fact, Balzan were forced to mount a sustained rearguard action, displaying great resilience to keep Sliema Wanderers at bay during the Blues’ best spell in the second half.

While the Balzan defenders, well marshalled by Ramon and Andrew Scicluna, and their holding midfielders were beacons of defiance, Pedrinho was the star performer of this largely mundane game.

He had been a handful for the Sliema defence all evening and when the Blues were also reduced to 10 men on the stroke of time following the dismissal of Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Pedrinho took matters in hand.

After going close with a curling effort, Pedrinho provided the assist for Jose Luis Armario Negrin's last-gasp winner as the never-say-die Balzan achieved a smash-and-grab win, a deserved one considering their gallant effort, to break their duck in the Championship Pool.

Balzan's tactical strategy was unchanged as Jesmond Zerafa stuck with 4-2-3-1, Ryan Darmanin positioned in front of the advanced trio of Negrin, Lydon Micallef and the roaming Pedrinho.

The return of Stanley Ohawuchi compensated for the absence of playmaker Admir Vladavic who began a two-match ban.

Sliema coach Alfonso Greco settled on 4-3-3 with Ohawuchi and John Mintoff on the wings and Ivan Woods in a central striking role.

With the two teams struggling for fluency, there was little in the way of entertaining football in the early exchanges.

It was not before the 16th minute that either goalkeeper was called to make an intervention as Sliema's Glenn Zammit cut out a dangerous cross from Justin Grioli.

Midway into the first half, Paltemio Barbetti pumped the ball into the area from a free-kick in midfield but the ball grazed the head of Stefano Bianciardi.

Another Barbetti free-kick was fumbled by Manuel Bartolo as the ball dropped to Woods whose effort was deflected to Ohawuchi but his drive was repelled.

Sliema suddenly found an extra gear. They should have put their noses in front when Ohawuchi darted into the box before picking out the unmarked Woods but the veteran volleyed over.

At the other end, Zarate received the ball in an inviting position but his effort was blocked by Bianciardi.

Balzan stirred. They had the ball in the net after Darmanin rifled home but the striker was offside.

Darmanin stole the show when he met Grioli's cross with a stunning volley but Zammit leapt to his left to tip the ball away for a corner. The duel between Darmanin and Zammit continued as the goalkeeper pulled off another top save to keep out the Balzan man’s header as the game sprung to life.

Seven minutes into the second half, sights were drawn to referee Sandro Spiteri as he brandished the red card to dismiss Balzan right-back Grioli who earned a second booking for dissent.

Zerafa was forced into his first substitution as Darmanin's evening was ended by injury.

Despite their numerical handicap, it was Balzan who almost seized the lead.

Pedrinho cut infield from the left before arrowing a strong shot that flew wide of the far post.

Alex Podda, who had come on for Mintoff, had a great chance to score but he drove meekly into Bartolo's hands.

To their credit, Balzan refused to lie down. Micallef fired high from the distance while, at the other end, Bartolo stopped a low strike from the dynamic Mathias Muchardi.

Barbetti was high with a rising shot as Sliema finally brought some urgency to their game.

With 15 minutes remaining, Podda headed over from Jacob Borg's cross.

Balzan dropped deeper in their own half as the end of the game approached. They almost got punished but Bianciardi headed wide from Trevor Cilia’s corner.

Bartolo thwarted Sliema when pushing away Muchardi’s attempt after the Argentine had burst into the box.

Sliema were also reduced to 10 men late on after Gatt Baldacchino was given a second yellow card for pulling the advancing Pedrinho.

Balzan almost sneaked a winner as man-of-the-match Pedrinho sprinted forward before releasing Micallef whose low effort rolled inches wide of the far post.

There was another scare for Sliema as Pedrinho set off on another solo run but his shot ended wide.

Balzan’s improvement was rewarded in stoppage time when Pedrinho again stormed forward through the middle and, with the Sliema defence in a state of disarray, he passed to Negrin who rammed past Zammit.

Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-7, A. Muscat-5, J. Borg-5.5, J. Mintoff-4 (59 A. Podda-6) S. Ohawuchi-4, C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Woods-6 (46 T. Cilia-5.5), P. Barbetti-6, M. Muchardi-6.5, B. Muscat-5 (59 A. Xuereb), S. Bianciardi-6.5.

Balzan
M. Bartolo-6.5, J. Grioli, S. Bezzina-7, K. Magro-6.5, A. Scicluna-7, Ramon-6.5, L. Micallef-6, Pedrinho-8, E.D. Bilbao Zarate-6, J.L. Armario Negrin-6, R. Darmanin-6.5 (59 F. Aboulezz-6).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Bianciardi; Ramon; Grioli; Gatt Baldacchino; B. Muscat; Barbetti.

Red cards: Grioli (B) 52; Gatt Baldacchino (S) 89.

BOV player of the match: Pedrinho (Balzan).