BALZAN FC 0 MOSTA 0
Balzan FC: F. Tabone, C. Micallef, A. Agius (J. Borg), Y. Camilleri, S. Giglio, R. Conceicao, B. Bondin, R. Forace, C. Caruana (M. Deanov), P. Calcado (M. Licari), E. Da Silva
Mosta: J. Haber, M. Micallef, B. Agius (S. Chiemeka), S. Bezzina, L. Dimech, C. Campagnoli (D. Maia), R. Grech, F. Aboulezz, D. Bogdanovic (J. Bajada), D. Mitev, O. Obiefule
Referee: C. Lautier
Asst.refs: M. Debono, A. Borg Cardona
4th official: F. Zammit
Yellow cards: R. Forace, C. Micallef, J. Bajada, E. Da Silva, B. Bondin, L. Dimech
Red cards: R. Forace, L. Dimech
Player of the match: F. Tabone (Balzan)
TMI top 3: 1. D. Mitev 2. F. Tabone 3. R. Grech
Balzan followed up their win against Sliema Wanderers with another positive result, holding Mosta to a goalless draw. Like in the previous game, Balzan also had a player sent off and had to play with ten men for the last quarter hour after Forace’s dismissal fore two yellow cards.
But their defensive diligence and tactical discipline earned them a precious point that keeps them unbeaten in four consecutive league matches. Their resolve was admirable as they look to have recovered from their sloppy start of the season.
Anyone playing Balzan will not find it easy these days and Mosta may know something about it. Their failure to capitalise on long periods of possession and several goalscoring opportunities finally cost them. They fluffed chances galore, especially through Obiefule and found Blazan keeper Frederick Tabone up to task whever his defence was beaten, especially in the last part of the match when they enjoyed numerical superiority.
Mosta thus missed the chance to go up third alone in the standings.
Both teams made changes to their line-ups, although both had won their previous matches. Balzan’s changes were forced by suspensions to Matthew Mandy, Jamie Pace and Dylon Grima. They were replaced by Aaron Agius as left back, Bjorn Bondin in midfield and Clint Micallef wide in front of the defence to block Bogdanovic’s forays on the left.
Bogdanovic was included in Mosta’s starting line-up yesterday, together with Mano Micallef in defence as Cini was exiled to the bench. Zongo was not fit to play.
As expected, Balzan took a more catious approach and stayed composed in defence, with six or seven players behind the ball. They relied on long balls forward for Elton Da Silva, Christian Caruana and Pedro Calcado to exploit.
For all their attacking intentions, Mosta found it extremely difficult to break down their opponents and struggled in the face of an organised defence in the opening minutes.
In fact, for the first quarter hour Balzan looked the more menacing. Keeper Haber was forced to fist out Calcado’s inswinger from the left after six minutes and Elton’s rising shot went narrowly over.
Towards the quarter hour, Yessous Camilleri played a poor clearance. Mitev almost reached for the loose ball but Camilleri atoned to block at his feet.
On 20 minutes, Grech shot Micallef’s cross from the right against the side netting and midway through the half, the Balzan keeper Tabone was called to make the first difficult save, as he turned a close Obiefule header into a corner. From the resultant corner by Bogdanovic, Obiefule headed off target from a promising position.
Soon after, Mosta substituted the injured Agius with Chiemeka, who went in central defence with Bezzina shifting to the left.
Mosta were all over their opponents by then and before halftime they carved out another good opportunity. Campagnoli played a through ball to Obiefule, who outpaced Conceicao but his low shot was footed out by the onrushing Tabone.
It was still goalless at the interval but Mosta, despite enjoying more of possession, continued to show too much profligacy in front of the Balzan goal. Mitev rolled the ball square for Grech, whose grounder was saved by keeper Tabone. Balzan’s response came from a Calcado free kick and a Conceicao header, blocked into corner by Chiemeka.
Obefule’s effort, after good work inside the Balzan area, wass well saved by keeper Tabone, before Mosta were forced to make their second substitution on 55 minutes after Bogdanovic was also injured.
Two minutes later Elton robbed Chiemeka of the ball inside area but Calcado failed to make the best of an inviting pass and shot horrendously off target.
Mosta fluffed further chances. On the hour, Obiefule headed Mitev’s cross over and then keeper Tabone missed the ball on another Mitev free kick but substitute Bajada lofted the ball.
Balzan had Forace sent off on 75 minutes for a second bookable foul on Bezzina and that complicated matters for Ivan Zammit’s boys.
Mosta tried to increase their efforts and forced a series of corners but remained erratic in their passing and poor in ideas.
Keeper Tabone saved his side six minutes from time with a top notch save, tipping Mitev’s venomous free kick over the bar.
Deep in three minuteds of added time, Mosta’s defender Luke Dimech was also sent off, for collecting two cards within less than a minute. First he was booked for protests and then for shirt pulling on Conceicao.