Balzan Youths 0
Valletta 2
Briffa 76; Effiong 87;
Taking on Valletta is a daunting challenge in itself, let alone if you have to play them with 10 men for over 65 minutes.
Balzan Youths endured that experience last night as, with the score still 0-0, Clifton Ciantar received his marching orders for a late tackle on Jonathan Caruana but to their immense credit, the Division One champions showed defiance in the face of adversity.
Despite dominating large swathes of possession, the champions were devoid of flair and bite as they laboured to break down Balzan’s stubborn resistance.
Late goals from Roderick Briffa and Alfred Effiong settled City’s nerves but it was Balzan who took the laurels for their plucky performance.
The only consolation for the low-key Citizens was that their hard-earned win took them two points clear at the top, in the process turning a semblance of pressure on Hibs before their clash with Floriana today.
Valletta’s unconvincing display in the one-all draw with Sliema prompted coach Jesmond Zerafa to tweak his selection. Captain Gilbert Agius and Dyson Falzon were restored to the starting line-up at the expense of Ryan Fenech and Ian Azzopardi respectively.
Falzon assumed the left-back role in a 4-3-3 formation with Gilbert Agius taking up a central midfield position alongside the regular duo of Edmond Agius and Jamie Pace.
Flank defender Renie Forace was back in the fray for Balzan after suspension kept him out of the 3-1 win over Marsaxlokk. Ivan Zammit, the Balzan coach, was without defender Yessous Camilleri, suspended.
Valletta should have taken the lead after six minutes when William Barbosa received an inviting ball inside the box but fired over.
On 15 minutes, the champions squandered another golden opportunity to take the lead when Barbosa’s pass from the left rolled into the path of Edmond Agius but the latter’s first-time grounder was blocked by Renie Forace.
As was to be expected, the Citizens enjoyed more possession in the initial stages but their efforts were easily held off by Balzan.
On 24 minutes, Balzan suffered an unexpected blow when Ciantar was shown a straight red card by referee Andre Arciola who deemed that the flank defender’s late challenge on Caruana was reckless.
Balzan had good reason to feel hard-done by Arciola’s decision as, from the press box, it looked as though Ciantar’s tackle only warranted a yellow card.
Buoyed by their numerical advantage, Valletta retained the upperhand. Gilbert Agius’s measured cross flew towards Barbosa who headed over.
Denni’s miscued pass towards Edmond Agius was indicative of Valletta’s lethargic display so far.
Zerafa showed his dissatisfaction with his team’s first-half showing as he threw on Alfred Effiong and Fenech for Barbosa and Pace.
Six minutes into the second half, it was Balzan who threatened to go ahead as David Fenech powered clear on the left and teed up Ciantar who fired over.
Valletta’s riposte was immediate. Denni provided a good cross from the right, Fenech laid the ball back for Gilbert Agius whose angled strike flashed against the far post.
A minute past the hour mark, Camilleri fisted Mifsud’s header over the bar after the latter had reached Denni’s cross.
Midway into the second half, Camilleri frustrated the Citizens again when pushing away Fenech’s free-kick.
Camilleri had to rush out of goal to close down Effiong who had been released by Briffa but, with 14 minutes remaining, the latter eased Valletta’s frustration when putting them ahead with a low shot that appeared to take a deflection off Nikola Tasic.
Effiong spurned a glorious chance to seal Valletta’s win as he headed over from Edmond Agius’s cross.
Three minutes from time, Effiong redeemed himself as he prodded past Camilleri from close in after Falzon’s shot had been diverted into his path.
Balzan Youths: M. Camilleri-7, C. Ciantar, R. Forace-7.5, B. Guga-6.5, R. Farrugia-6.5, N. Tasic-7 (88 L. Bernardes), D. Grima-5.5, Pedrinho-7.5, M. Ciantar-5.5 (77 B. Bondin) D. Fenech-6.5, K. Bright-6.5 (90 L. Micallef).
Valletta: A. Hogg-6, J. Caruana-6, S. Borg-6, R. Briffa-6.5, E. Agius-6, J. Pace-5 (46 R. Fenech-6.5), G. Agius-6, D. Falzon-6, Denni-6 (88 O. Zongo), W. Barbosa-5 (46 A. Effiong-5.5), M. Mifsud-5.
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Yellow cards: Borg; Effiong.
Red card: C. Ciantar (BY) 24.
BOV player of the match :Kris Bright (Balzan).
Attendance: 860.