BALZAN-0, VALLETTA-2

Captain Ryan Fenech struck a late goal, from a free-kick, to put Valletta's minds at rest as the champions beat Balzan 2-0 for their second win on the trot.

Valletta deserved the three points as they were better side for long stretches but their task was made more complicated by the brilliance of man-of-the-match Steve Sultana, the Balzan goalkeeper, who made a string of saves to keep his side in the game in the second half.

With Valletta leading1-0, Balzan briefly threatened to make a reaction but their hopes were dashed by Ice-Cream Guobadia's sending-off and Fenech's goal from the ensuing set-piece.

The game was off to a low-key start with the first 20 minutes short on scoring chances.

Midway into the first half, Valletta's Tunisian winger Abdelkarim Nafti threatened with a well-struck lob that ended just over the bar. Minutes later, Nafti's cross from a left-wing corner triggered a goalmouth melee as Hamza Barry tried to get a touch to the ball but Ice-Cream Osa Goubadia cleared the danger.

Valletta began to dictate matters. Nafti tried to surprise with a volley but Balzan goalkeeper Steve Sultana was alert.

Nicky Vella, the Valletta goalkeeper, saved a grounder from Guerrero after the Colombian had drifted infield from the right.

Valletta opened the scoring on 34 minutes. Barry's dipping cross from the right flew towards Nafti who laid the ball to Briffa and the midfielder fired home from close range.

The champions came close to doubling their lead late in the first half when Nafti's sparked panic in the Balzan box as Steve Borg touched the ball towards Kooh Sohna but the former Pietà forward's effort was deflected away for a corner.
The Citizens were more aggressive at the start of the second half.

Four minutes into the second half, Nafti's set-piece cross glanced off Balzan's wall but the ball sailed towards the unmarked Borg who nodded wide with only Sultana to beat.

Barry hit wide from close in after Elford-Alliyu's shot had come off the Gambian and, on 53 minutes, Fenech sent his shot over the bar after a good interchange involving Barry and Kooh Sohna.

Sultana, the Balzan goalkeeper, then saved his team when blocking a low shot from Briffa before making a better save to keep out Kooh Sohna's curler.

Balzan's defensive struggles were evident when Nafti and Kooh Sohna were both unmarked as they raced on to Briffa's through-ball but the Cameroonian striker's attempt was saved by Sultana.

Llywelyn Cremona, who had just replaced Kooh Sohna, had a low shot stopped by Sultana after the Valletta winger had received from Fenech.
Sultana's brilliance frustrated Valletta as the champions were unable to

In preventing Valletta from adding to their lead, the brilliant Sultana kept Balzan in the game. Spiteri's substitutions also enlivened Balzan as Lydon Micallef and Ryan Darmanin bolstered their attack.

Vella, the Valletta goalkeeper, showed good reflexes as he fisted away Darmanin's piledriver after the lanky striker had been teed up by Piccioni.

At the other end, Sultana again thwarted Valletta with fine saves from Briffa and Elford-Alliyu.

There was another anxious moment for Balzan as Briffa, driving forward through the middle, released the overlapping Ryan Camilleri who evaded his marker but his angled drive sailed past the far post after taking a deflection.

Seven minutes from time, Balzan's Goubadia was rightly dismissed for bringing down the goalbound Elford-Alliyu who had been sent clear by Briffa. From the ensuing free-kick, Fenech beat Sultana after his angled drive took a slight deflection.
G

uerrero, Balzan's most enterprising player, had a dipping shot saved by Vella.