Qormi 1
Bello-Osagie 14
Balzan 2
Elton 65, 78 pen.
Elton scored a second-half brace to earn Balzan a come-from-behind win over Qormi who paid the price for spurning a host of chances, including a first-half penalty.
A first victory in six games brought joy to Balzan but their delight was tainted by the knee injury suffered by goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri late on.
Camilleri had been instrumental for Balzan as the experienced goalkeeper followed his save from Vincenzo Pisani’s penalty with a string of crucial interventions to keep his team in the match when Qormi threatened to increase their lead.
Camilleri’s defiance and the early introduction of Martin Deanov were central to Balzan’s win and Qormi’s downfall as Stephen Azzopardi’s men left the pitch ruing their inability to kill the game.
Goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia was omitted from Qormi’s starting XI, his place taken by Steve Sultana. Azzopardi made two other changes, Leighton Grech and Gabriel Buttigieg replacing Joseph Chetcuti and Matthew Gauci respectively.
Qormi started in 4-2-3-1 fashion with Pisani at the tip of their formation and the advanced trio of Abubakar Bello-Osagie, Gaetan Spiteri and Grech providing support from behind.
Brazilian forward Pedrinho was back for Balzan but defender Stefan Giglio was absent for Ivan Zammit’s team. Jamie Pace dropped to centre-half to fill Giglio’s void.
Hardly four minutes from the start of the game had elapsed when Spiteri squared to Grech who burst into the box but his close-range flick rolled inches wide of the far post.
Qormi’s optimism rose when, eight minutes into the game, they were awarded a penalty after Yessous Camilleri appeared to use his arm to block a cross by Grech. Pisani stepped up to take the penalty but his low drive brought a fine save from Camilleri. The loose ball squirmed into the path of Grech but the goalkeeper got up quickly to repel the winger’s effort.
Balzan’s reprieve was temporary though as, on 14 minutes, Bello-Osagie surged into the box before prodding past Camilleri.
Close to the 20th minute mark, Zammit made his first substitution, Deanov coming on for Christian Caruana. Deanov was given instructions to partner Elton in attack as Balzan switched to 4-3-1-2.
Midway into the first half, Balzan went close to an equaliser when, from Pedrinho’s corner, Conceicao headed over. Another great chance for Balzan went abegging when the unmarked Dylan Grima skied his shot after being released by Elton.
The tactical change added fresh impetus to Balzan’s attack as Elton, Deanov and Pedrinho kept the Qormi defenders on their toes.
Just past the half-hour, Qormi would have doubled their lead but for another smart save from Camilleri. Matthew Mendy’s headed clearance dropped invitingly to Spiteri who unleashed a first-time volley that was tipped away for a corner by the Balzan keeper.
As Balzan committed more men forward, Qormi were able to operate on the counter-attack.
On the verge of half-time, Qormi protested for a penalty when Bello-Osagie was tackled by Conceicao on the edge of the box but referee Clayton Pisani was unmoved.
The second half had only just got underway when Spiteri broke clear on the right but fired wide.
Driven on by Bello-Osagie’s intelligent runs, Qormi continued to create chances. The movement of the Qormi wingers was making life uneasy for the Bazan defenders who, on one occasion, struggled to cope with a prolonged raid.
Grech’s shot was partially cleared by Balzan but the loose ball fell to Bello-Osagie who saw his shot blocked by Camilleri with his feet.
Balzan rode the storm and hit back to level matters on 65 minutes.
Their goal came from a breakaway as Deanov’s run eluded the back-pedalling Qormi defenders with the Bulgarian passing to Elton who tapped home from close in, much to the delight of Zammit who ran onto the pitch to celebrate.
Qormi squandered a good opportunity to regain the lead when, from a cross by Bartolo, Bello-Osagie just failed to make contact with the ball.
With 13 minutes remaining, Balzan earned themselves a gilt-edged chance to take the lead as they won a penalty after Pedrinho was hauled down by Gauci. Elton rammed his penalty shot past Sultana for his second goal of the game.
Azzopardi changed to 4-4-2 as Qormi chased an equaliser.
On the stroke of time, Qormi were dangerous when Bartolo’s set-piece cross from the left flew towards the edge of the box where Pisani chested the ball towards Kris Thackray whose volley was smothered away by Camilleri.
Qormi: S. Sultana-5, K. Thackray-5, R. Sammut-6, M. Bartolo-6, V. Pisani-5, A. Bello-Osagie-7, Edison-6.5, G. Spiteri-6.5 (66 J. Chetcuti-5), J. Bondin-6, G. Buttigieg-5 (82 L. Sciberras), L. Grech-6 (72 M. Gauci).
Balzan: M. Camilleri-7.5, D. Grima-6.5, M. Mendy-5, R. Forace-5, J. Pace-6, Y. Camilleri-6, B. Bondin-6, R. Conceicao-6 (74 A. Agius), C. Caruana (20 M. Deanov-6.5), Pedrinho-6.5, Elton-7 (87 C. Micallef).
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Pedrinho; Sultana; Agius; B. Bondin.
Missed penalty Pisani (Q) 9.
BOV player of the match Elton (Balzan).