BALZAN-4, ZEBBUG RANGERS-1

Balzan kept their bid for a premier league top-four finish firmly on track after beating relegation strugglers Zebbug Rangers 4-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

The Rangers had raised their hopes after taking an early lead but Balzan hit back with a vengeance, scoring three goals in 16 first-half minutes to all but secure victory that took them four points clear of Floriana.

Zebbug Rangers had seized the lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Latching on to Jacob Borg's cross, Matias Muchardi swept past his markers before firing past Balzan goalkeeper Chris Cassar.

Balzan hit back immediately. They took only two minutes to level matters.

Dylan Grima's inviting cross, from a corner was met by Colombian defender Elkin Serrano whose powerful header gave Jeffrey Farrugia no chance.

Gianmarco Piccioni was unlucky as his low shot came off the post but, on 17 minutes, Balzan doubled their lead.

Kaljevic finished off a flowing move involving Piccioni and Lydon Micallef by hitting past Farrugia.

Zebbug's Carlo Monti was wide from a free-kick but, two minutes short of half-hour, Balzan pulled further ahead.

Micallef dispossessed the dithering Jacob Borg and floated he ball towards the far post where Grima darted in to blast home.

Zebbug had their backs to the wall. Balzan came close to increasing their lead when Micallef cut in from the left but his shot was saved by Farrugia.

On the hour, Rashid Yussuff's header was deflected away for a corner as the Rangers tried to stage a reaction but Balzan remained the more dangerous side.

Midway into the second half, Grima made a good run through the middle before switching to Piccioni who in turn served Kaljevic but the Montenegrin striker's effort was blocked by Farrugia.

The Rangers goalkeeper then saved a shot from Piccioni who received from Kaljevic.

Mauricio Britto, who had just come on for Paltemio Barbetti, wasted a glorious chance to pull one back for Zebbug as the Brazilian miscued his close-range header from Monti's free-kick.

Minutes later, David Alejandro Reano surged forward on the left wing but his cross-cum-shot just eluded Lee Galea after Balzan were caught out at the back.

Muchardi had a curling effort blocked by Cassar but the Rangers' comeback hopes evaporated when, with six minutes left, Balzan scored their fourth through substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who fired home after connecting with Kaljevic's cross.

In stoppage time, the woodwork again denied Piccioni as his drive rebounded the far post after the Italian had been served by Mifsud Triganza.

Balzan striker Kaljevic was named BOV player of the match.