Balzan FC 1
Licari 89;
Birkirkara 2
Shodiya 9; Muscat 39;

Ten-man Birkirkara just managed to stave off a late rally from a spirited Balzan FC side to bag their second league win of the season.

An impressive first-half display maintained Birkirkara’s pristine opening to earn an important victory, given that it was achieved against a Balzan team whose own pedigree is now well established after last season’s exploits.

Jhonnattann generated his team’s two-goal advantage in the opening 35 minutes. As the minutes ticked by, Balzan started to cope better with the threat posed by the Brazilian striker but the damage had already been done.

Birkirkara had a classy and authorative air about their play and they had Balzan FC rocking when Shola Shodiya’s nifty overhead bicycle-kick finished just wide of the post.

But it was not long before the Stripes struck.

The goal Birkirkara had threatened as early as the third minute finally came when Jhonnattann’s visionary pass between the retreating defenders was controlled by the galloping Shodiya who rammed the ball into the net to give the Stripes the lead nine minutes into the game.

Jhonnattan’s flash of creativity was delivered emphatically given the space that was allowed to him by the accommodating opponents.

Birkirkara maintained the initiative with Balzan struggling to pose any sort of reaction.

Six minutes from the break, Rowen Muscat was in the right position at the right time to snatch a Jhonnattann cross and deflect it into the net from the goal-line.

But it was not all plain-sailing for Birkirkara as they were hit by a double injury blow within the first 30 minutes of the game when striking duo Shodiya and Joselito had to be withdrawn due to injury.

Gradually, Balzan got more into the picture but they still had a mountain to climb to overturn the match in their favour.

In the 43rd minute, Pedrinho fired a powerful shot from a free-kick which Reuben Gauci tipped over the crossbar.

Moments later, Matthew Mendy saw a deflected shot well saved by the Birkirkara goalkeeper Gauci while Martin Deanov hit the rebound narrowly wide.

After the break, Birkirkara went on to dominate large chunks of play and Balzan were indebted to goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri for keeping the deficit at two palming away Ryan Camenzuli’s long-range effort after 48 minutes.

The incident seemed to rouse Balzan though with their suspended coach Ivan Zammit continuously communicating with the bench via his mobile phone.

On 69 minutes, Pedrinho’s deft chip played Yessous Camilleri through but the Balzan defender could not get a decent touch on the ball to trouble the opposing goalkeeper.

Balzan were showing no respect or reverence to their more illustrious opponents and Mendy rattled the underside of the bar with Gauci beaten in the 79th minute.

The Stripes were reduced to ten men barely a minute later as a lunge from Ryan Scicluna on Elton resulted in referee Andrea Arciola dismissing the Birkirkara player.

Balzan tried to make their numerical advantage count and they managed to pull a goal back a minute from time.

Substitute Malcolm Licari, who had replaced Renie Forace, drilled into the net a cross from Pedrinho as his expert header to the near post was beyond Gauci’s reach.

But the equaliser Balzan’s endeavours deserved failed to materialise in the closing moments as the Stripes held on to their second successive win.

Balzan FC
M. Camilleri-7, M. Deanov-6 (61 B. Bondin), Y. Camilleri-6, M. Mendy-6, S. Giglio-5, J. Pace-6, D. Grima-6, J. Francica-5 (46 A. Agius-5) Pedrinho-7.5, Elton-7, R. Forace (67 M. Licari-5).

Birkirkara
R. Gauci-7, A. Mendoza-6, R.Camenzuli-7.5, G. Sciberras-6, R. Muscat-7, P. Fenech-5.5, R. Scicluna, Jhonnattan-7 (86 F. Zammit), Z. Muscat-6, Joselito (35 J. Zerafa-6), S. Haruna-6 (18 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5).

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Scicluna, Pace, Z. Muscat, Deanov, Elton, Pedrinho.

Red card: Scicluna (B) 79.

Player of the match: Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).

Attendance: 1,293.

Standings