BALZAN 2 NAXXAR LIONS 1
Balzan hit back strongly to turn the tables on Naxxar and join Floriana in the fourth place of the standings.
Inside the first minute, Elkin Serrano Valero sent Gilmar crashing to end Naxxar’s first serious venture towards the Balzan area and Terence Vella stepped up to convert from the spot.
The lively Temile came closer to put Naxxar out of sight after just eight minutes. The Nigerian looked to have taken the ball over Steve Sultana. But the keeper got a vital touch to tip the effort over the bar. By this time, Naxxar had seized the upperhand only to be frustrated by Sultana, the Balzan goalkeeper.
Past the half hour mark, Gilmar produced a firm drive that was repelled Sultana.
The erstwhile disjointed Balzan began to find their rhythm as the game moved past the 35th minute mark. Mifsud Triganza’s effort was partially repelled by Julian Azzopardi but Valerio Serrano was on hand to head powerfully against the bar. Seconds later, Dylan Grima drove the ball just wide.
After their promising start, Naxxar faded badly with their attacking trio of Jorge, Temile and Gilmar showing little understanding between them.
One minute from half-time, it was Balzan’s turn to be awarded a penalty after Kaljevic’s surge into the box was halted by the sliding Andrew Scicluna, prompting Marco Borg to order a penalty, the second in the game. The Montenegrin striker picked himself up to place the ball behind Azzopardi.
The proceedings livened up after the break as the two teams continued to push hard in search of a goal. Sliema came close after 52 minutes but Gilmar’s raking shot-cum-cross from the left flashed across the face of goal to find nobody on hand to push the ball over the line. On the other side, Kaljevic’s volley shook the bar.
Balzan went for broke now. They were thwarted by Azzopardi who repelled efforts by Ryan Darmanin, who came on for Mifsud Triganza. But the Reds struck the winner, eight minutes from time.
Guerrero’s swerving effort from a wide position drifted away from the leaping Azzopardi and nestled into the far corner.
Naxxar spurned a brilliant chance to equalise two minutes from time.
Jorge, fastening on to Gilmar’s pass, dashed into the box but his effort was pushed away by the alert Bonello, before Serrano cleared for a corner.
In stoppage time, goalkeeper Azzopardi who went up for a corner, saw his Balzan counterpart Sultana produce a smart save to palm away his effort.