Pietà Hotspurs 0
Balzan 3
Piccioni 23; Micallef 77; Kaljevic 89;

The third-round match between Balzan and Pietà Hotspurs was a clash between two traditionally modest clubs that are pursuing different targets this season.

Balzan needed the points to reclaim the initiative from Floriana in the race for a top-four finish while the Hotspurs are deeply embroiled in the relegation battle.

Both teams showed a lot of commitment and fighting spirit in their bid to collect maximum spoils but the end-result of their combined efforts was a mundane encounter that was generally bereft of creative football.

Not that Balzan will have given a hoot about the quality of the game as Oliver Spiteri’s men won the game with something to spare without reaching any spectacular heights.

In Bojan Kaljevic and Gianmarco Piccioni, Balzan have two match-winning players and they lived up to their billing yesterday as the two strikers scored either side of substitute Lydon Micallef’s effort to give their side a vital win.

Pietà were perhaps unlucky to fall behind after enjoying the brighter side but, for all their hard work, the Hotspurs lacked flair and punch with Argentine Claudio Frances the only blue-shirted player seemingly capable of providing some spark in attack.

The absence of two first-choice players in Oscar Guerrero and Edison Bilbao Zarate prompted Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri to indulge in some positional tinkering.

Steve Bezzina was deployed on the left of midfield with the returning Elkin Serrano Valero switching to left-back in a 4-4-2 formation.

Pietà’s optimism will have been boosted by the news that key players Leo Fortunato and Jurgen Pisani had recovered from the injuries that threatened their participation in this game.

The first chance fell to Pietà after nine minutes. Latching on to a through pass from Frances, Costa swept past the on-rushing Christian Cassar but his cross, from an angled position, was too high for Micallef.

Pietà were the more adventurous side as their strategy to go forward in numbers had Balzan on the ropes. On 12 minutes, Pisani fed Frances who jinked his way into the box but blasted high.

Balzan settled as the first half wore on. Dylan Grima did well to create space for a shot but his effort was blocked by Christian Grech with the ball subsequently coming off Fortunato’s outstretched hands on the edge of the box.

Referee Philip Farrugia awarded Balzan a free-kick and Piccioni ensured that the opportunity was not laid to waste as the Italian produced a sizzling drive that gave David Cassar no chance.

Piccioni’s opener undermined Pietà’s early momentum.

Ten minutes from half-time, Frances ran across the edge of the box but his low strike was turned away by Cassar, the Balzan keeper.

Balzan had a good chance to double their lead but Grima’s swerving effort flashed past the post. On the cusp of half-time, Terence Agius’s cross, from a corner, was met by Ice Cream Guobadia who headed over.

Two minutes into the second half, Rafael Rodrigues released Gabriel but the latter’s diagonal effort was warded off by Cassar.

At the other end, Kaljevic cut in from the left but his shot was wide.

The game became a scrappy affair with both teams going for every ball but showing little quality when in possession.

Pietà’s Luke Micallef was high from the edge of the box. The former Melita forward then made way for Kyle Cesare as part of a double substitution that saw Charles Newuche coming on for Gabriel.

Midway into the second half, Balzan had a great opportunity to wrap up the points when Grima raced forward through the middle before picking out Piccioni but his effort was blocked by Cassar.

With 14 minutes left, Balzan applied the killer touch. The Hotspurs were caught at sixes and sevens at the back as Kaljevic threaded the ball to the advancing Lydon Micallef. The Reds substitute ran clear before slotting past Cassar.

Pietà might have narrowed the deficit when Pisani’s pass rolled into the path of Newuche but his tame shot was blocked by Cassar.

A minute from time, Kaljevic made it 3-0 when he raced clear before hammering past Cassar.

Pietà Hotspurs
D. Cassar-4, C. Attard-6, C. Grech-5, L. Fortunato-5 (46 K. Micallef-5), J. Pisani-6, O. Anonam-5, Gabriel-5.5 (64 C. Newuche-4), R. Rodrigues-5.5, L. Micallef-5.5 (64 K. Cesare-5), R. Costa-5.5, C. Frances-6.5.

Balzan
C. Cassar-6.5, J. Grioli-6, D. Grima-6.5 (70 L. Micallef-6.5), E. Serrano Valero-6, T. Agius-5.5 (63 L. Sciberras-6), S. Bezzina-5.5, B. Kaljevic-7, I. Guobadia-6 (85 M. Spiteri), C. Brincat-6.5, S. Arab-6, G. Piccioni-6.5.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Anonam; Luke Micallef; Gabriel; Lydon Micallef.

BOV player of the match: Gianmarco Piccioni (Balzan).

Standings