Balzan 3
Grima 1; Kaljevic 69, 81;
Tarxien Rainbows 2
Grioli 37og; Soly 52;

Edison Bilboa Zarate, of Balzan, defends possession from Tarxien’s Eduardo Vallecillo, yesterday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Balzan’s quest for a top-four finish remains on track.

With rivals Floriana dropping four points after back-to-back draws, the onus was on Balzan to seize the opportunity and reclaim fourth spot.

They did achieve their target but were indebted to Bojan Kaljevic who hit a second-half double to tilt a tight match Balzan’s way after Tarxien Rainbows had taken a 2-1 lead early in the second half.

Like the rest of his team, Kaljevic, a mid-season signing from Mosta, was a transformed player after Balzan had fallen behind.

Indeed, this fluctuating en-counter reflected the difficulties of Balzan to keep a firm grip on fourth place and those of bottom-placed Tarxien to step up their relegation battle.

Both teams lost their shape for prolonged periods of this game with the Reds easing up after opening the scoring while the Rainbows were virtually non-existent for the first half-hour.

The game ended on a sour note after Tarxien striker Mouhamed Soly appeared to hit Balzan defender Clive Brincat as the two approached the tunnel following a heated exchange.

Balzan tore out of the blocks, scoring probably the fastest goal of the season. Hardly 13 seconds from the referee’s initial whistle had elapsed when Gianmarco Piccioni passed to Oscar Guerrero who arrowed a cross towards the far post and captain Dylan Grima’s low strike had the better of the startled Sean Mintoff.

Deprived of defender Elkin Serrano, suspended along with Lydon Micallef, Steve Bezzina moved to centre-half. Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri settled on 4-3-3 with Kaljevic, Gianmarco Piccioni and Guerrero in attack.

The Reds threatened again when Kaljevic raced clear but his lob landed wide of the near post.

Desperate for a win to revive their flailing survival hopes, Tarxien were up against it.

The returning Eduardo Vallecillo and Soly, who missed the derby defeat to Hibs, were tasked with leading Tarxien’s attack as coach Clive Mizzi ditched the 5-4-1 system in favour of 4-4-2.

Tarxien took a while to come to terms with conceding an early goal. They had to wait until the 20th minute to record their first shot at goal as Soly’s tame grounder was easy prey for Christian Cassar.

There was an even better chance for the Rainbows when, from a throw-in, the ball fell to Triston Caruana who let fly a powerful shot that flashed past the near post.

The game was drab and dull and to make matters worse for Tarxien, Hevia, their most effective player this season, limped out of the pitch seven minutes from half-time.

As Jorge Yepes was preparing to replace his fellow Spaniard, Tarxien scored with 10 men as Vallecillo’s cross flew into the six-yard box and Balzan right-back Justin Grioli committed an own goal in an attempt to clear.

Early in the second half, Soly turned well but his effort was off target as Tarxien began brightly.

Balzan looked shaky at the back and they were duly punished when Vallecillo’s cross found Soly unmarked and the Senegalese hit past the keeper.

Soly’s goal was the cue for Balzan to wake up. Kaljevic headed wide from Grioli’s cross and, on 55 minutes, the Montenegrin was denied by Mintoff after he had been sent clear by Piccioni.

The Tarxien keeper thwarted Balzan again when getting a touch to Piccioni’s header from Samir Arab’s cross.

There was no let-up from Balzan as they swarmed forward in numbers. Kaljevic’s piledriver was deflected over the bar and Grima was high from outside the box.

Tarxien were now operating with counter-attacks. Yepes skewed his effort wide after a probing run from the enterprising Firas Aboulezz.

The score became 2-2 on 69 minutes, Kaljevic heading home from Guerrero’s corner.

Kaljevic proved decisive again nine minutes from time as he pounced on a half-clearance before rifling past Mintoff.

Tarxien were unlucky not to equalise when Aboulezz’s free-kick sparked a goalmouth melee with the ball hitting the base of the post. The clearance from Balzan landed at the feet of Yepes whose looping effort was fisted over the bar by keeper Cassar.

Balzan: C. Cassar-5.5, J. Grioli-5, D. Grima-6 (72 R. Darmanin-5), O. Guerrero-6, E. Zarate-6, S. Bezzina-7, B. Kaljevic-7.5 (87 L. Sciberras), I. Guobadia-5.5, C. Brincat-5.5, S. Arab-5.5 (64 T. Agius-6), G. Piccioni-6.5.

Tarxien Rainbows: S. Mintoff-6, M. Caruana-5, T. Caruana-6.5, F. Aboulezz-6.5, E. Vallecillo-6.5, R. Sammut-5 (46 I. Grech, 87 K. Farrugia), C. Hevia-6 (38 J. Yepes-6), J. Pereira-5, A. Cini-6.5, M. Tabone-5, M. Soly-7.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Kaljevic; Yepes; Vallecillo; Soly; Agius; Cini.

BOV player of the match: Mouhamed Soly (Tarxien Rainbows).