Balzan Youths 2
Pedrinho 26; Ciantar 90;
Sliema Wanderers 1
Fenech 16;

Miguel Ciantar came back to haunt his former club Sliema yesterday after scoring a last-gasp winner to boost Balzan’s Championship Pool aspirations.

It was a dramatic outcome to a match that came into life after the interval with both teams giving their all.

In the end, however, Balzan’s resilience paid off with a dramatic winner just a few minutes after Sliema looked to have managed to preserve a point when goalkeeper Henry Bonello saved a penalty.

The Wanderers might feel hard-done to have lost a match in which they had set the pace for long stretches but Balzan should be praised for their excellent organisation. Inspired by Brazilian duo Pedrinho and Fagner Bernardes, the Youths did well to hit their opponents with quick counter-breaks to clinch all points.

Sliema handed new signing Emiliano Lattes his debut but they were without Beppe Muscat and Roderick Bajada who had to serve a one-match ban.

Striker Jerry Ani, scorer of the winner against Birkirkara the week before, was rewarded with a place in the starting formation as Cleaven Frendo had to settle for a place on the bench.

Bjorn Bondin was the only change effected by Balzan coach Ivan Zammit as Clifton Ciantar and Roderick Farrugia were still nursing injuries.

Balzan threatened as early as the first minute. Nikola Tasic directed a cross into the path of Anthony Eviparker whose header finished just over.

Sliema defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino was lucky to remain on the pitch after he only received a booking for a crude challenge on Jonathan Francica but on 16 minutes the Wanderers opened the scoresheet.

Ryan Fenech surged forward and unleashed a bombshell from outside the area that gave Balzan goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri no chance.

Camilleri had to be alert not to concede a second goal soon after when Francica’s clearance was deviated towards goal by Ani but the keeper did well to tip the ball over.

Balzan drew level just before the half-hour mark when Martin Deanov moved past two defenders before releasing Pedrinho who kept his balance before placing the ball past Bonello.

Chances became few and far between and, in fact, we had to wait until the 40th minute for the next scoring opportunity. Sliema’s Danial Mitev tried his luck from the distance but his effort never troubled Camilleri.

Balzan were quick to push the ball upfield and the effective Pedrinho saw his stinging drive pushed away by Bonello.

Sliema coach Danilo Doncic effected a double change at half-time as he withdrew Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Gatt Baldacchino and roped in Frendo and Alex Muscat.

Zammit was forced to make his first change on 57 minutes as Renie Forace limped out injured. He was replaced by Silvan Ciscaldi.

Just past the hour, the Wanderers came close to regaining the lead when Mitev curled the ball inside the area and Josef Mifsud’s shot was tipped over the bar by Camilleri.

Bonello dived to his right to push away Pedrinho’s shot and the keeper did well to keep out Eviparker’s grounder before stop-ping the Balzan player’s attempt from the rebound.

It was end-to-end stuff now and Camilleri was on the right spot to push away Mitev’s cross-shot.

Calcado picked Eviparker in the Sliema half but the latter fired wide from routine distance.

Two minutes from time, sub-stitute Bernardes dashed inside the Sliema box and was upended by Mifsud.

From the penalty Pedrinho’s spot-kick was saved by Bonello.

More drama was in store though as the two teams finished with a man less when Mitev and Francica clashed and were both dismissed on 90 minutes.

Then, when it looked like the match was heading to a stalemate, Balzan struck the killer blow.

Bernardes released substitute Ciantar and the Malta Under-21 forward kept his cool before hitting low past Bonello.

Balzan Youths
M. Camilleri-7, Y. Camilleri-6, J. Francica, B. Guga-7, R. Forace-6 (57 S. Ciscaldi-6), D. Grima-6, N. Tasic-7, B. Bondin-6, M. Deanov-6.5 (69 M. Ciantar-7), Pedrinho-7, A. Eviparker-6 (77 F. Bernardes).

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-7.5, J. Mifsud-5, M. Scerri-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-4 (46 C. Frendo-5), D. Mitev, S. Bezzina-5.5 (90 T. Thomas), C. Gatt Baldacchino-5 (46 A. Muscat-5), R. Fenech-6, R. Galabov-6, J. Ani-5, E. Lattes-6.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Gatt Baldacchino, Bondin, Forace, Fenech, Camilleri, Guga.

Red cards: Mitev (S), Francica (B) 90.

Missed penalty: Pedrinho (B) 88.

BOV Player of the match: Pedrinho (Balzan Youths).