Birkirkara edge past Balzan to move five points clear

Birkirkara opened up a five-point gap in the standings after they defeated Balzan 1-0.

Birkirkara as expected dominated the match, but the first half produced very few scoring opportunities for both sides.

On the 60th minute, Birkirkara’s left-back Joseph Zerafa was sent off for a late tackle on Pedro Calcado.

Even though Birkirkara were one man down, they still managed to take control of the match.

Birkirkara managed to take the lead on the 69th minute. Off a freekick from inside the area, Jhoonnattann served Paul Fenech who fired a powerful shot that would leave no chance for goalkeeper Emmanuel Bartolo.

The match would turn for the worse for Balzan just three minutes later when Fabio Vignaroli was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

BIRKIRKARA Justin Haber, Zach Muscat (66’ Ryan Camenzuli), Nikola Vukanac, Mathias Bissi, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Haruna Shola Shodiya (76’ Ryan Scicluna), Frank Temile (59’ Ronaille Calheira Seara), Jhonnattan Benites da Conceicao.

Subs not used: Reuben Gauci, Antoine Borg, Terence Vella, Kurt Zammit.

Coach: Paul Zammit

BALZAN Emmanuel Bartolo, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Andrew Scicluna, Kurt Magro (85’ Mark Spiteri), Fabio Vignaroli, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Edison David Balbao Zarate, Jose Luis Armario Negrin, Dylan Grima (46’ Lydon Micallef), Ryan Darmanin.

Subs not used: Michael Falzon, Charles Fuller, Firas Aboulezz, Lucas Ramon dos Santos, Shawn Bugeja.

Coach: Jesmond Zerafa

Referee: Andre Arciola

Assistant Referees: Alan Camillieri, Thomas Debono

Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia

Yellow Cards: F. Vignaroli, M. Bartolo, P. Fenech

Red Cards: 59′ Joseph Zerafa, 72′ Fabio Vignaroli

Scorers: 69’ Paul Fenech

BOV Player of the Match: Paul Fenech

In the other match, Qormi collected three precious points when they defeated Floriana 2-1 in a battle for survival.

Qormi managed to take the lead 13 minutes into the match. Joao Gabriel da Silva had his powerful shot from the edge of the area beat goalkeeper Daniel Hanford.

On the 30th minute, Floriana were unlucky not to score the equaliser when Gary Muir hit the crossbar with his shot.

A minute later, Floriana managed to score the equaliser. Christian Caruana scored from close range thanks to a error by Qormi’s defender.

Qormi increased the pressure and totally dominated the match. They managed to regain the lead on the 72nd minute. Off a cross by Triston Caruana, Leighton Grech had his low shot beat goalkeeper Daniel Hanford.

QORMI Matthew Farrugia (33′ Steve Sultana), Joao Gabriel da Silva, Leighton Grech, Alfred Effiong, Owen Bugeja (87′ Roderick Bajada), Emerson Vella, Duncan Pisani, Raffaele Simone Quintieri, Giorgio Gianola, Jonathan Bondin, Triston Caruana.

Subs not used: Stefano Zampa, Paolo Dandolo, Mohamed Bance, Leonardo Gabrieli, Dylan Pirotta, .

Coach: Karel Zeman

FLORIANA Daniel Hanford, Andre Scicluna, Emmanuel Ibok Edet, Steve Pisani, Christian Caruana (84′ Luca Casha), Igor Coronado, Diogo Pinheiro de Souza, Jonathan Xerri, Clyde Borg, Joseph Borg, Gary Muir.

Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Manuel Briffa, Brooke Farrugia, Rodrigo Felix Aguiar, Isaac Galea, Sacha Borg

Coach: Ian Dawes

Referee: Paul Caruana

Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Sammy Attard

Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri

Yellow Cards: Quintieri, Bugeja, Edet, Gabriel, J. Borg

Scorers: 13′ Joao Gabriel da Silva, 33′ Christian Caruana, 72′ Leighton Grech

BOV Player of the Match: Leighton Grech