Balzan leave it late to defeat Birkirkara

Birkirkara took the lead in the 28th minute, when a header by Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais off a cross by Rafael Ledesma left no chance for goalkeeper Steve Sultana.

Balzan managed to level matters just six minutes later when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s powerful shot from just outside the area beat goalkeeper Justin Haber to make the score 1-1.

Birkirkara continued to press till the 43rd minute when they restored their lead. Off a cross by Ryan Camenzuli, Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais’s low shot beat goalkeeper Steve Sultana.

Balzan started the second half on a better note and came close to scoring on the 53rd minute. Gianmarco Piccioni served Mifsud Triganza who missed a chance to score from an ideal position.

Balzan then finally managed to get back in the match when they scored the equaliser in the 60th minute. A shot by Gianmarco Piccioni was blocked by Lydon Micallef but off the rebound Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza beat goalkeeper Justin Haber with a powerful shot.

As the match looked to be heading for a draw, Balzan scored the winner three minutes into stoppage time, with Oscar Guerrero unleashing a powerful shot that left no chance for Haber, to give his team victory.

BALZAN Steve Sultana, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Elkin Serrano, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Osa Ice-Cream Guobadia, Clive Brincat, Lydon Micallef (90+2′ Michael Borg), Oscar Guerrero, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (79′ Luke Sciberras), Gianmarco Piccioni.

Subs not used: Christian Cassar, Juan Corbalan, Samir Arab, Ryan Darmanin, Fredrick Nonso Odebe.

Coach: Oliver Spiteri

BIRKIRKARA Justin Haber, Matheus Bissi da Silva, Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais, Nikola Vukanac, Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma (66′ Alejandro Mendoza Corujo), Eliandro dos Santos Gonzaga, Paul Fenech (66′ Leighton Grech), Zach Muscat, Ryan Scicluna, Edward Herrera (85′ Kurt Zammit), Ryan Camenzuli.

Subs not used: Justin Tonna, Antoine Borg, Andrea Curmi, Dylan Aquilina.

Coach: Paul Zammit

Referee: Marco Borg

Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Luke Portelli

Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi

Yellow Cards: Guobadia, Mifsud Triganza, Micallef, Z. Muscat, Sultana