Balzan 3
Piccioni 4, 90 pen; Zarate 80;
Tarxien Rainbows 2
Hevia 68; Alvaro 76;
An entertaining game that produced countless scoring chances and some shambolic defending produced a sting in the tail.
Balzan and Tarxien looked set to share the spoils after trading four goals but the Reds had the last word in a dramatic finale after Italian striker Gianmarco Piccioni, back after serving suspension, converted a penalty, given for Ryan Sammut’s push on Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, on as a substitute.
Tarxien had done well to surge in front after Balzan had threatened to move two goals up but the Rainbows’ defensive frailties, which had been compounded by Owen Bugeja’s withdrawal late in the first half, caught up with them as the Reds struck two late goals to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Mosta.
Alvaro, man of the match in Tarxien’s 2-1 win over Naxxar, was surprisingly omitted from the starting line-up. Coach Clive Mizzi made two changes, bringing Jorge, who flanked Wesley in attack, and Firas Aboulezz who was preferred to Matthew Tabone.
Piccioni played at the tip of Balzan’s 4-2-3-1 with the roving Oscar Guerrero on the left and Edison Bilbao Zarate pushing from the right.
The game was off to an explosive start.
Hardly 45 seconds from the referee’s whistle had elapsed when two Balzan players appeared to get in each other’s way, leaving the path clear for Aboulezz who hit a fierce drive that was pushed away by Steve Sultana. The loose ball flew towards Jorge who was denied by the woodwork.
In their next attack, Balzan opened the scoring.
The Rainbows paid a high price for their lapse in concentration as defender Elkin Serrano, left unmarked inside the box, was first to a low pass and his cross from the left was headed home by Piccioni.
Balzan’s opener left Tarxien stunned.
On 11 minutes, Balzan protested for a penalty when Zarate’s shot appeared to come off defender Alessandro’s hand but their pleas were waved away by Fyodor Zammit.
As the first half progressed, Tarxien beamed signs of improvement.
The Reds’ attacking threat was not to be underestimated though.
Midway into the first half, Piccioni outmuscled Bugeja but his piledriver was high and wide.
At the other end, Tarxien claimed a penalty when the grounded Steve Bezzina, under pressure from Triston Caruana, appeared to nudge the ball with his hands but Zammit was unmoved.
Tarxien did find the net when Caruana rifled past Sultana but the former Hibs midfielder was offside.
Piccioni ought to have doubled Balzan’s lead but fired wide from a good position after being freed by Guerrero. The Italian went close again on 37 minutes, hammering wide after connecting with Justin Grioli’s low cross from a free-kick.
Sultana, the Balzan goalkeeper, prevented Tarxien from equalising as he repelled Hevia’s low strike.
The referee took centre-stage again when turning down another legitimate penalty claim after Balzan’s Lydon Micallef appeared to have been hauled down by Sammut.
Mizzi introduced Alvaro for Aboulezz but it was Balzan who should have added to their advantage as Guerrero’s lofted pass sailed towards the far post and Piccioni flicked wide.
Things were not looking good for Tarxien. Jorge was running gingerly after aggravating a hamstring injury but Mizzi had already effected his three substitutions after Manuel Caruana was forced to come off.
Their troubles almost intensified when Mifsud Triganza anticipated Cini but his strike was headed away by Alex Cini.
Tarxien levelled midway into the second half. Cini’s cross from the right dropped in the path of Wesley whose rising shot drew a fine save from Sultana but Hevia was on hand to head the ball home.
Balzan nearly restored their lead when Piccioni’s pass released Guerrero who was foiled by Cini.
It was the Rainbows who made the most of the situation as Alvaro fired them ahead with a low shot after receiving from Wesley.
The non-stop action continued with Cini stopping a Mifsud Triganza attempt but parity was restored 11 minutes from time when Zarate headed the ball into an empty net after his initial attempt had been parried away by Cini.
Jorge then headed narrowly wide from Matthew Tabone’s cross while Balzan’s Michael Borg, who enjoyed a bright cameo after coming on in the closing stages, was high with a well-struck shot.
Then came Piccioni’s penalty goal which broke Tarxien’s hearts.
At the end of the game, Hevia was dismissed by Zammit for kicking out at an opponent.
Balzan
S. Sultana-6.5, J. Grioli-6.5, S. Bezzina-5.5, E.O. Serrano-7, E. Bilbao Zarate-7.5, O. Guobadia-5.5 (82 M. Borg), C. Brincat-6 (83 F. Odebe), L. Micallef-6 (59 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5), O. Guerrero-6.5, L. Sciberras-6.5, G. Piccioni-7.
Tarxien Rainbows
S. Cini-5.5, K. Farrugia-5.5, M. Caruana-5 (57 M. Tabone-6), O. Bugeja-5.5 (41 R. Sammut-5), T. Caruana-5, F. Aboulezz-5.5 (50 Alvaro-6.5), Wesley-6.5, C. Hevia Menendez, A. Cini-6, Alessandro-6, Jorge-7.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Brincat; Bugeja; Hevia; Farrugia;
Red card: Hevia (T) 90.
BOV player of the match: Edison Bilbao Zarate (Balzan).