Valletta 1
Fenech 26;
Balzan 2
Kaljevic 9; Piccioni 73;

News of Hibernians’ 1-1 draw with Mosta was greeted with glee by Valletta but their joy was short-lived.

Their second-round meeting with the much-improved Balzan, the nouveau riche of the Premier League, was always seen as a tricky fixture for the champions and so it proved as Valletta slumped to an unexpected 2-1 defeat that left them 14 points adrift of the leaders.

Two picture goals from Bojan Kaljevic and Gianmarco Piccioni embellished a resolute performance from Balzan whose willingness to fight for every ball and tactical discipline was in stark contrast with the inertia that engulfed the champions yesterday.

Indeed, while Balzan’s gutsy showing came as no surprise, given their steady progress and outlay on new players this season, few, if anybody, would have envisaged such an insipid and lifeless display from the champions who were coming from five straight wins.

Valletta were disjointed throughout the game with most of their creative elements, the likes of Abdelkarim Nafti, Hamza Barry and Roderick Briffa looking out of sorts.

Ryan Fenech tried to cajole his team-mates into lifting their performance as the City captain cancelled out Kaljevic’s opener and was unlucky not to level at the death when his rasping drive came off the crossbar but his efforts proved futile.

The excellent strikes from Kaljevic and Piccioni made the difference in this game but all the Balzan players deserve credit for the way they applied themselves yesterday.

A win over the champions will go a long way towards enhancing Balzan’s optimism that they have what it takes to shake the traditional order of Maltese football.

Their officials were basking in glory after the match as some took photos to capture this landmark moment in the club’s history while others punched the air in delight as the players left the pitch.

Balzan have now cemented their grip on fourth place and, with Birkirkara also dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Sliema Wanderers, they will also be dreaming of a tilt at third place, moreso when the points are halved in two weeks’ time.

As for Valletta, they spurned a gilt-edged chance to breathe life into their faltering title challenge.

With Steve Borg serving a one-match ban, Jonathan Caruana moved back into his customary centre-half position alongside Luke Dimech.

It was the usual 4-3-3 approach from Ivan Zammit with Dutch striker Djameel Leeflang again preferred to Lateef Elford-Alliyu in attack and Barry and Nafti on the wings.

Newly-signed Nigerian Ikenna Hillary featured among the substitutes.

The two notable absentees from Balzan’s squad were captain Steve Bezzina, who is recovering from a groin injury, and Nigerian midfielder Ice Cream Guobadia.

Coach Oliver Spiteri switched Samir Arab to left-back with Colombian defender Elkin Valero Serrano, back after serving a one-match ban in the 5-3 win over Sliema, partnering Clive Brincat in the heart of defence.

Spiteri unleashed his attacking zephyrs with towering strikers Kaljevic and Piccioni leading the line and Colombian forward Oscar Guerrero tucking in from the right wing.

Valletta did the early running but it was Balzan who seized the lead after nine minutes.

A dangerous run by Valletta’s Barry was halted by the Balzan defenders and, from the ensuing clearance, the ball dropped invitingly to Kaljevic just beyond the halfway line.

As the Montenegrin striker strode forward unimpeded, Nicky Vella dashed out of his goal in a desperate attempt to close down Kaljevic who instinctively produced a delightful chip that soared above the hapless Valetta goalkeeper and into the far corner.

The goal came like a bolt out of the blue for the Citizens who took a while to get going.

On 16 minutes, Fenech, back in the team after missing the 3-0 defeat of Naxxar Lions through suspension, made headway through the middle but his drive whistled past the upright.

A superb solo move from Fenech hauled Valletta back on level terms on 26 minutes.

Retrieving possession in the inside-right channel, the City captain dazzled his way past Arab and Terence Agius as he raced into the box before side-footing the ball through the legs of Steve Sultana, the Balzan goalkeeper.

A visibly elated Fenech took off his shirt as he ran towards the City fans to celebrate his fine strike.

Valletta were now expected to up the ante but this was not forthcoming as their efforts were easily subdued by the Balzan defence.

Spiteri’s troops fashioned a good chance when Kaljevic played in Dylan Grima on the left and the Balzan captain swung in a cross that Caruana only managed to clear into the path of Piccioni but the Italian’s volley was high and wide.

Leeflang made way for Shaun Bajada three minutes from half-time as Zammit temporarily switched to 4-1-3-2.

Early in the second half, Ian Azzopardi, Valletta’s left-back, was cautioned for tripping Kaljevic close to the touchline. Justin Grioli’s free-kick from the right was partially cleared by the Valletta defenders but Piccioni lifted his shot over the bar.

With the likes of Barry, Nafti and Briffa looking rusty and off form, Valletta lacked their usual fluency.

This prompted Zammit to send on Elford-Alliyu, scorer of a brace against Naxxar, for midfielder Llywelyn Cremona on 56 minutes.

Sultana, the Balzan goalkeeper, then blocked Fenech’s grounder from outside the penalty area.

Elford-Alliyu’s introduction saw Valletta revert to 4-3-3 while Balzan stuck with their initial approach.

Midway into the second half, Nafti passed to Elford-Alliyu who outpaced Brincat before dragging in an insidious cross-shot that was cleared away for a corner by Arab.

Balzan refused to lie down. They quickly provided a reminder of their attacking prowess as Kaljevic released Guerrero inside the box but the latter’s cut-back found no takers.

With 18 minutes remaining, Zammit made his third and final substitution as Hillary replaced Nafti.

If the Valletta faithful hoped that this change would spark an instant revival, they were wrong as Balzan moved 2-1 up with a stunning goal from Piccioni whose dipping volley from the distance left the startled Vella rooted to his spot.

Piccioni was booked by referee Lautier after the Italian striker went to celebrate his goal in front of the City fans.

Valletta looked stunned.

Fenech, their best player, had a central header saved by Sultana and, 10 minutes from time, Elford-Alliyu’s goal was ruled out for offside.

Valletta were unlucky not to draw level as Fenech’s piledriver from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar.

As the Whites hurled caution to the wind, Balzan sought to apply the killer blow on the counter.

Dimech was booked for a rash challenge on Kaljevic who was clear on the right.

In the dying stages, Serrano blocked a shot by Elford-Alliyu while, at the other end, Guerrero blasted wide from inside the box.

Sultana snuffed out Valletta’s hopes when pushing away Bajada’s inswinging cross from a corner.

Valletta
N. Vella-4, J. Caruana-5, I. Azzopardi-6, R. Camilleri-6, R. Fenech-7.5, H. Barry-5, R. Briffa-5, L. Cremona-6 (57 L. Elford-Alliyu-6), D. Leeflang-5 (43 S. Bajada-4), A. Nafti-5 (72 I. Hillary-6), L. Dimech-5.5.

Balzan
S. Sultana-6, J. Grioli-6, D. Grima-7 (85 L. Micallef), S. Arab-6, E. Zarate-7, T. Agius-6.5, B. Kaljevic-8, O. Guerrero-6.5 (90+ L. Sciberras), C. Brincat-7, G. Piccioni-6.5 (90 R. Darmanin), E. Valero Serrano-7.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Fenech; Azzopardi; Kaljevic; Piccioni; Dimech.

BOV player of the match: Bojan Kaljevic (Balzan).

Attendance: 1,127.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hibernians	21	18	3	0	64	12	57
Valletta	21	14	1	6	50	16	43
Birkirkara	21	13	3	5	40	21	42
Balzan	21	9	7	5	34	31	34
Floriana	21	7	7	7	36	39	28
Mosta	21	7	4	10	23	41	25
Sliema W.	21	6	6	9	24	30	24
Tarxien R.	21	4	9	8	21	34	21
Naxxar L.	21	4	7	10	22	34	19
Pietà H.	21	4	6	11	17	35	18
Żebbuġ R.	21	4	6	11	25	47	18
Qormi	21	4	5	12	20	36	17