Naxxar Lions 0
Balzan 2
Mensha 57 pen; Zarate 63;
Godwin Mensha and Edison Bilbao struck after the break to help Balzan register their first win of the season.
Naxxar gave their opponents a good run for their money but Balzan’s greater quality made the difference after the break and it was an uphill battle for Stefano Grima’s men once Mensha had broken the deadlock from the spot.
Oliver Spiteri’s Balzan demonstrated their credentials when they emerged unscathed from their encounter with champions Hibernians last week and this showing was equally impressive.
They showed strength at the back when required with Elkin Serrano Valero holding his own against the physical challenge of Lions newcomer Sidione Oussou.
Naxxar showed more desire and appetite in this match and slowly but surely won around their disgruntled fans with their show of commitment.
Oussou impressed as he was a menace with his surging runs at the Balzan defence.
Fastening on to a long pass from the defence early on, he surged into the box but his shot was kept out by keeper Christian Cassar who repelled Richard Cardoza’s volley soon after.
Dylan Grima, Terence Agius and Bilbao, Balzan’s midfield trio, lacked inventiveness at first and Effiong was unable to find breakthroughs.
Past the half hour, Mensha’s mazy run brought him into the box but his angled effort whistled past the far post.
But Naxxar’s hopes of taking their first points took a serious blow after 57 minutes. Ishmael Grech’s foul on Effiong led to a penalty, scored by Mensha.
The second goal came six minutes later when Effiong delivered a perfect cross for Zarate whose shot in the near corner took a deflection on its way home.
Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6, A. Scicluna-6.4, L. Lodetti-6, R. Cardoza-6, S. Oussou-6.5 (74 D. Bonnici), R. Cassar-6, I. Grech-5.5, D. Fenech-5.5, A. Buhagiar-6 (63 D. Falzon-5), E. Lattes-5.5, A. Tarlazis-6 (88 B. Rajovic).
Balzan
C. Cassar-6, S. Bezzina-5.5, C. Brincat-6, E. Zarate-6.5, L. Micallef-5 (55 R. Darmanin-5), T. Agius-5 (68 L. Sciberras-5), G. Mensha-6.5, A. Effiong-6, E. Serrano Valero-7, D. Grima-6, J. Grioli-5 (75 S. Arab).
Yellow cards: Grech, Scicluna, Cardoza.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
BOV player of the match: Godwin Mensha (Balzan).