Balzan come from behind to regain fourth spot

Inside the first minute, Elkin Serrano Valero tripped Gilmar crashing in the penalty box with the referee ordering a penalty and Terence Vella stepped up to convert from the spot.

The threathening Temile went close to put Naxxar out two goals up after just eight minutes. The pacy 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 upper hand only to be frustrated by the the good form of Sultana.

Past the half hour mark, Gilmar produced a firm drive that was turned away by Sultana.

The lacklustre Balzan began to find their feet as the game progressed.   Experienced forward 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 slowly even showing signs of tiredness with their attacking trio of Jorge, Temile and Gilmar showing little connection 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-cross from the left 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 then wasted a brilliant chance to grab a point 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.