Edison Bilbao Zarate (right) charges forward for Balzan yesterday. Photos: Paul Zammit Cutajar

Pietà Hotspurs 1
Micallef 50;
Balzan 1
Zarate 54;

Pietà Hotspurs and Balzan had to settle for a point apiece after their match ended in a 1-1 draw yesterday.

There was little between these two teams with the Hotspurs enjoying their best spell in the opening part of the second half but Balzan came back strongly to earn a point that help them consolidate third place in the table.

On their part, the Hotspurs moved one point above Naxxar in 10th place.

Balzan’s line-up showed only one change from the 1-1 draw against Floriana as Lydon Micallef started ahead of Luke Sciberras.

The presence of four attack-minded players in Balzan’s selection – Micallef, Oscar Guerrero, Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Gianmarco Piccioni – indicated Oliver Spiteri’s intent to press from the front.

After their famous 2-1 victory over Valletta, Pietà coach Noel Coleiro went for 4-4-1-1 with the returning Gabriel filling the lone striker’s role in the absence of Rafael Xavier who was serving a one-match ban. Claudio Francis was deployed just behind Gabriel.

Cain Attard deputised for Cleaven Cassar in what appeared to be a last-minute change.

Balzan were first to threaten. The game was 20 minutes old when Guerrero delivered an inviting centre from the left and Piccioni produced an acrobatic flick that finished wide.

Encouraged by their positive start, Balzan maintained their momentum.

It was not long before they fashioned another good opportunity when Mifsud Triganza advanced in the box, following a mazy run, but his low shot was blocked by David Cassar, the Pietà goalkeeper.

Two minutes from half-time, the former Valletta striker looked odds on to break the deadlock but his grounder was cleared off the line by Christian Grech.

Coleiro was forced to make two substitutions in the opening half when first, Terence Agius succumbed to injury and then, Francis appeared to pull his hamstring as he was chasing a long ball.

The Hotspurs still had ammunition in attack. A minute after the break, Luke Micallef, coming on for Francis, ran clear on the right before firing against the side-netting.

This proved to be an inspired substitution as, four minutes later, Micallef made a perfectly- timed run into the box to meet Juergen Pisani’s pass with a low drive that rolled past Steve Sultana.

Yet, Balzan were back on level terms four minutes later.

Lydon Micallef’s effort was partially saved by Cassar, the ball falling to Edison Bilbao Zarate who hit a crisp half-volley that flashed into the top corner.

After this setback the Hotspurs looked to protect their result and Coleiro promptly roped in the defensive-minded Orosco Anonam for Gabriel.

Balzan tried to heap more pressure on the Hotspurs as the second half moved on but their only chance came on 84 minutes

Fortunato appeared to have the ball covered but substitute Ryan Darmanin, on for Piccioni, went to unsettle the defender but the Hotspurs defender recovered in time to block the striker’s attempt.

Pietà Hotspurs
D. Cassar-6, C. Attard-6, C. Grech-6, L. Fortunato-5.5, J. Pisani-6.5, K. Cesare-5.5, Gabriel-6 (67 O. Anonam-5), T. Agius-4 (37 L. Micallef-7), N. Tasic-5.5, R. Rodrigues-5, C. Francis-5 (45 D. Agius-6).

Balzan
S. Sultana-6, J. Grioli-6, S.Bezzina-6, E. Serrano Valero-5, E. Bilbao Zarate-7, O. Guobadia-5.5, C. Brincat-6, L. Micallef-6 (68 J. Corbalan-5), O. Guerrero-6.5, J. Mifsud Triganza-6 (57 M. Borg-5), G. Piccioni-4.5 (80 R. Darmanin).

Referee: Andre` Arciola.

Yellow cards: Brincat, Valero.

BOV Player of the match: Oscar Guerrero (Balzan).