Birkirkara 2 Balzan 2
Balzan held Birkirkara 2-2 to earn their first point ever in the derby.
As expected Birkirkara made an energetic start. The Stripes might have forged ahead after just 51 seconds when Camenzuli’s corner was headed goalwards by Zach Muscat but Conceicao cleared the ball off the line.
The modus operandi was the same four minutes later as Camenzuli’s corner soared towards the far side of Balzan’s box and defender Muscat headed the ball towards Jhonnattann who shot over the bar.
But moments later, Balzan’s Pedrinho tested Gauci alertness with a stinging corner which the goalkeeper was in the right place to clear his effort off the line.
But Birkirkara stirred around the 13th minute mark. Mendy was having problems with coping with the Stripes’ raid on the right, especially with the constant movement of Jhonnattann.
The Brazilian outpaced his marker to cut the ball back to Mifsud Triganza who had been left in splendid isolation in the box who prodded home to score his 100th premier league goal.
Cue scenes of delirious joy among the Stripes fans who were joined by the laky striker who went on to celebrate his goal asthe Birkirkara bench stepped onto the pitch hold up placards to unfurl the message: “100”.
Yet the atmosphere soon muted as Balzan levelled matters five minutes later. Pedrinho stood out for the frequency with which he bewildered the Birkirkara reaguard.
The Brazilian looked menacing, making inroads through the defence. His grounder from the edge was repelled by Gauci but the danger was not over
Birkirkara as the rebound came to Elton who side-footed the ball into the net. The goal was owed as much to Elton’s deadly efficiency as to a costly error by Gauci who fumbled the ball on Pedrinho’s effort.
As if to show that Balzan’s equaliser had not undermined their attacking confidence, Birkirkara threatened with Jhonnattann on 26 minutes. The Brazilian tested Fredrick Tabone with stinging drive from outside the area which the Balzan goalkeeper fisted onto the bar.
On the brink of half-time, Birkirkara regained the lead when Jhonnattann’s out-swinging corner from a corner was met with a glancing far-post header by Zach Muscat as his effort sailed past Tabone.
As Birkirkara struggled to hit their stride after the break, Balzan gained in confidence. On one occasion, in the 52nd minute, Martin Deanov dispatched a long-range shot which finished just wide.
On the other side, Jhonnnattan stormed clear, rounded Mendy but was thwarted by a timely Conceicao block.
In the 57th minute, Birkirkara, aided by a howler from Tabone who fluffed a Zach Muscat header, almost doubled their lead but Mifsud Triganza shot the ball wide with the goal at mercy.
On the hour mark, Pedrinho gave the illusion of a goal as his free-kick flashed across the side-netting.
Yet, with six minutes left, Birkirkara’s evening took a turn for the worse with Renie Forace hitting a splendid first-time volley into the far corner to shock the Birkirkara supporters.