Balzan 2
Kaljevic 44 pen, Guerrero 82;
Naxxar Lions 1
Vella 2 pen;
A goal down after less than two minutes, Balzan will have been forgiven for fearing the worst as they had come into this match on the back of two disappointing results – a defeat to Pieta Hotspurs and a draw against Mosta.
To their credit, however, Balzan refused to let past setbacks undermine their self-belief.
Inspired by Oscar Guerrero and Bojan Kaljevic, and the non-stop running of Edison Zarate, Balzan hit back strongly to turn the tables on Naxxar and join Floriana in the fourth place of the standings.
Inside the first minute, Elkin Serrano Valero sent Gilmar crashing to end Naxxar’s early venture towards the Balzan area.
Terence Vella stepped up to score from the spot.
Frank Temile came close to put Naxxar out of sight after just eight minutes. He looked to have taken the ball over Steve Sultana but the Balzan keeper got a vital touch to tip the effort over the bar.
The erstwhile disjointed Balzan began to find their rhythm and Mifsud Triganza’s effort was partially repelled by Julian Azzopardi but Valerio Serrano was on hand to head powerfully against the bar.
Seconds later, Dylan Grima drove the ball just wide.
After their promising start, Naxxar faded badly with their attacking trio of Jorge, Temile and Gilmar showing little understanding between them.
One minute from half-time, it was Balzan’s turn to be awarded a penalty after Kaljevic’s surge into the box was halted by the sliding Andrew Scicluna.
The Montenegrin striker picked himself up to place the ball beyond Azzopardi’s reach.
The proceedings livened up after the break as the two teams started to push hard in search of a goal.
Naxxar went close after 52 minutes but Gilmar’s raking shot-cum-cross from the left rolled across the face of goal to find nobody on hand and push the ball over the line. On the other side, Kaljevic’s volley shook the bar.
Balzan went for broke now. They were thwarted by Azzopardi who kept out the efforts by Ryan Darmanin, who came on for Mifsud Triganza. But the Reds struck the winner, eight minutes from time.
Guerrero’s effort from a wide position drifted away from the leaping Azzopardi and nestled into the far corner.
Naxxar looked jaded but spurned an ideal chance to equalise two minutes from time.
Jorge, fastening on to Gilmar’s pass, dashed into the box but his effort was pushed away by the alert Bonello, before Serrano cleared for a corner.
In stoppage time, goalkeeper Azzopardi ,who went up for a corner, saw Balzan counterpart Sultana produce a smart save to palm away his effort.
Balzan
S. Sultana-7.5, J. Grioli-6, D. Grima-6 (76 T. Agius), O. Guerrero-7, E. Zarate Bilbao-6, S. Bezzina-6, B. Kaljevic-7, I. Guobadia-6, C. Brincat-6 (72 S. Arab), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (70 R. Darmanin-5), E. Serrano-6.5.
Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6.5, A. Scicluna-5.5, I. Edet-5.5, T. Vella-6.5, M. Del Negro-6, D. Falzon-6 (84 D. Bonnici), Gilmar-7, F. Temile-6 (75 P. Doffo), A. Buhagiar-6, Jorge-5, A. Bruce-6.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Bruce, Zarate, Grioli, Falzon, Kaljevic, Azzopardi.
BOV player of the match: Gilmar (Naxxar Lions).