Valletta 1
Corr Nyang 84;
Balzan 0
There was a surreal atmosphere at the end of yesterday’s game between Valletta and Balzan.
Title hopefuls Valletta took the points, courtesy of a brilliant strike from substitute Aziz Corr Nyang, but it was Balzan who celebrated most after the game as, despite their defeat, they still attained their top-six objective after seventh-placed Naxxar Lions went down to Hibernians.
Coming from four wins on the trot, Balzan, who ended their first phase commitments with a one-point lead over Naxxar, had done everything to gain a point from their clash with the more-quoted Citizens, defending diligently and throwing bodies in the way of shots with goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo frustrating his former team with a string of crucial saves, especially in the first half.
Valletta, themselves buoyed by a 2-1 win over leaders Birkirkara, enjoyed more possession but looked too predictable before Corr Nyang rose off the bench to rifle the winner in a bizarre finale.
While the Citizens were clearly relieved at having finally breached their opponents’ resistance, the celebrations on the Balzan bench began well before the final whistle after Hibs had taken a 2-0 lead in their game against Naxxar.
Valletta’s starting XI showed one change from the 2-1 victory over Birkirkara, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza replacing Belgian Jason Lee Vandelannoite who was not in the 18-man squad. Denni, Luke Dimech and Lateef Elford-Alliyu were also missing.
The inclusion of a forward instead of a defender necessitated some positional changes as Roderick Briffa reverted to right-back and Mifsud Triganza played off Abayomi Owonikoko in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Balzan coach Jesmond Zerafa fielded a makeshift back four with captain Dylan Grima dropped to left-back to deputise for the suspended Steve Bezzina and Kurt Magro filled in for Andrew Scicluna who was also serving a ban.
Spanish striker Jose Luis Armario Negrin was at the tip of Balzan’s 4-2-3-1 approach.
The Balzan players wore black armbands as a mark of respect following the death of the father of club official George Borg.
The Citizens would have taken the lead on 10 minutes but for a fine save from Bartolo who dived to his right to claw away Hamza Barry’s point-blank header from Abdelkarim Nafti’s perfect cross.
Barely two minutes later, it was Balzan who came close when Pedrinho dispossessed Steve Borg with Negrin bursting onto the loose ball to dash past the onrushing Nukri Revishvili but the Spaniard’s finish was wayward.
The game remained alive as the two teams traded attacks. A fluid City move had Barry releasing Owoni-koko but Ramon slid in to nudge the ball away from the Nigerian.
Balzan were not making life easy for the Whites with Zarate, as usual, putting in a great shift in midfield.
The woodwork denied Valletta a goal on 22 minutes when Borg stormed clear on the right before delivering a low cross that rolled into the path of Barry whose drive crashed against the foot of the post.
A promising opening for Balzan went abegging when a long clearance caught Valletta on the backfoot as the ball dropped to Negrin who instantly passed to Micallef but the latter’s cross was blocked.
Valletta should have taken the lead two minutes from half-time but were thwarted by another excellent save from Bartolo who kept out Mifsud Triganza’s header.
When the game resumed after the break, Valletta dictated matters only to run into a sea of Balzan players.
Bajada was bombing forward more frequently on the left as Valletta pushed more men upfield in a bid to open up the Balzan defence.
City coach Andre Paus introduced Corr Nyang for Nafti midway through the second half.
With 13 minutes remaining, Negrin darted into the box but Revishvili stood his ground.
Another City substitution followed, Luke Montebello, who was making his debut, coming on for Edmond Agius.
But it was Nyang who stole the show as, six minutes from time, the Gambian twisted his way through from the left before letting fly a powerful shot that soared into net.
Zerafa signalled his intent for broke as he introduced Firas Aboulezz and Ryan Darmanin for McKay and Micallef but Balzan’s nerves were calmed as news from the Hibs Stadium was relayed to the players.
Valletta
N. Revishvili-6.5, J. Caruana-6, S. Borg-6, R. Fenech-6.5, E. Agius-6 (79 L. Montebello), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (90 I. Maisuradze), R. Briffa-6, A. Owonikoko-5.5, H. Barry-7, S. Bajada-6.5, A. Nafti-6 (68 A. Corr Nyang-7).
Balzan
M. Bartolo-7.5, J. Grioli-6.5, K. Magro-6.5, Ramon-7, D. Grima-6, L. Sciberras-6, L. Micallef-5.5 (86 R. Darmanin), G. McKay-6 (85 F. Aboulezz), Pedrinho-6, E. Zarate-7, J.L. Armario Negrin-5.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Micallef; Borg; Zarate; Pedrinho; Magro; Sciberras; Mifsud Triganza; Ramon.
BOV player of the match: Ryan Fenech (Valletta).