Balzan 7
Mosta 1
Balzan: I. Janjusevic, C. Brincat, D. Grima, B. Kaljevic, A. De Barros, R. Fenech (T. Agius), A. Da Silva Souza, M. Piciollo, E. Serrano Valero, M. Lepovic (S Bezzina), A. Effiong (L. Micallef).
Mosta: A. Vella, K. Magro, M. Toth, F. Ciantar, M. Heron (JP Mifsud Triganza), A. Caruana, J. Ahoure (J. Grech), R. Cesar (N. Frendo), L. Oseghale, Z. Brincat, D. Fenech.
Referee: M. Apap.
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, T. Debono.
4th official: E. Grech.
Scorers: L. Oseghale, A. Effiong, B. Kaljevic 2, M. Piciollo, A. Da Silva Souza, L. Micallef 2.
Yellow cards: A. Lepovic, R. Fenech,
Player of the match: B. Kaljevic.
TMI Top 3: 1. B. Kaljevic, 2. L. Oseghale, 3. A. Da Silva Souza.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Balzan are once again leaders of the Premier League this morning after a comfortable 7-1 win against relegation-haunted Mosta.
But they had to survive an early scare from Mosta who took the lead through a fine Oseghale score before going on to claim three easy points.
Two strikes from Kaljevic and other goals from Effiong, Piciollo, Da Silva Souza and substitute Lyden Micallef (2) saw them coming from behind to beat Mosta after the Blues had taken the lead early on through Oseghale.
Balzan now have 48 points from 23 matches while Hibernians are second on 46 from 22 matches. However, the Paolites have today’s match against Hamrun in hand.
Balzan took quite some time to settle down in this match and could have easily been two goals down before they eventually restored parity and then took the lead near the end of the first half.
Mosta showed a lot of enthusiasm and determination in the early stages – of course their motivation came following the MFA Appeals Board had upheld a protest lodged by the club which saw them earning the three points from the match against Pembroke which had seen them losing 5-0.
Mosta showed the better ideas with Oseghale giving the Balzan defenders a lot of food for thought before he eventually scored a stunner to give his side the lead.
After that they were unlucky not to score a second goal and from then on it was Balzan who took over forcing their opponents at the back. Not only did the Reds equalise, but they also took the lead before the interval with another fine goal.
The second half was a different story as Balzan took over midfield and the match was over after Kaljevic scored his second and Balzan’s third.
From then on, Mosta did not exist and it was no surprise that Balzan added further goals.
Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri had to do without the suspended Paul Fenech.
It was Mosta who threatened first as Lucky Oseghale had a fine effort turned to corner with some difficulty by Janjusevic.
Balzan’s reply arrived five minutes later through a da Silva Souza freekick which hit the side netting.
At the other end, Oseghale had another angled effort going wide. Four minutes later, it was no surprise that they took the lead. And what a goal it was! Oseghale received a ball in three quarters pitch and advanced into the far side of the Balzan area, from where he unleashed a fine inswinger which completely beat Janjusevic.
In the 24th minute, Mosta were very unlucky not to add a second goal. Romero Cesar set David Fenech on the edge of the area who first timed beautifully. But although the ball beat the Balzan goalie, it hit the underpart of the crossbar though bouncing just out to the relief of the Balzan clan.
Balzan now started to push forward and finally equalised in the 33rd minute when from a Ryan Fenech cornerkick, it was Effiong who headed into the net.
Soon afterwards, Balzan appealed for a penalty when a Piciollo cross might have hit the hand of a Mosta defender on the ground, but referee Mario Apap, close to the action, waved play on.
Balzan took the lead on the 43rd minute when da Silva Souza set Bojan Kaljevic on the edge of the Mosta area and the towering striker scored a beauty with a fine rising shot.
Early in the second half, Mosta earned a corner from which David Fenech had a good rising shot going just over.
In the 54th minute, it was 3-1 as Kaljevic beat goalie Vella with a low shot.
Minutes later, from a Magro cross, Ahoure had a good chance to get his team back in contention, but he miskicked the ball from an ideal position.
From here onwards, Mosta’s challenge abated considerably and Balzan took over midfield.
In fact, it did not take them long to confirm their super.iority. The rout started with Piciollo scoring the third goal in the 62nd minute. And soon after it was Kaljevic who netted the 4th
Alan da Silva Souza then scored a fifth goal on the 72nd minute when he beat goalie Vella with a low shot following a personal action.
Before the end, substitute Lyden Micallef added two further goals as Balzan continued with their annihilation of their opponents.
Valletta 3
Sliema W. 1
Valletta: D. Bartkus, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Malano (S. Dimech), L. Cremona (L. Montebello), C. Pani, U. Uchenna Calistus, L. Aguirre, M. Velasco (R. Fenech), R. Muscat, R. Romao.
Sliema W.: G. Sarao, A. Muscat, F. Temile, S. Bianciardi, G. Aquilina (S. Wisdom), J. Pearson, D. Dos Santos (M. Sansone), J. Mintoff (R. Spiteri), M. Scerri), L. Incorvaja, JP Farrugia.
Referee: A. M. Sant.
Asst refs: A. Camilleri, P. Apap.
4th official: P. Farrugia.
Scorers: M. Scerri, M. Velasco 2, U. Calistus.
Yellow cards: J. Caruana, S. Borg.
Player of the match: M. Velasco.
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Velasco, 2. L. Aguirre, 3. D. Dos Santos
Attendance: 669
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Valletta came from behind to beat Sliema 3-1 in a match which came mainly to life in the second half.
Mark Scerri gave Sliema an unlikely lead, but City fought back and soon were in command with two quick goals from Velasco before Calistus scored the third to secure the three points.
The three points enabled Valletta to remain four points behind leaders Balzan, but the gap could increase to five today if Hibs win their match against Hamrun.
In the first half, Valletta enjoyed the lion’s share of the play, but only on one occasion did they test goalie Sarao as they failed to create any clearcut opportunities to break the deadlock.
On the other hand, it was evident that Sliema’s main concentration was at the back, but in their counterattacks, they lacked conviction even if both Denni Dos Santos and Jean Paul Farrugia tried hard to penetrate the City defence.
At the end of the first 45 minutes, the goalless scoreline corresponded perfectly with what went happened on the field of play.
The second half, however, was completely different. Before the goals arrived - three of them in the space of four minutes – we saw excellent saves by the two goalies apart from some good football, especially from Valletta who certainly deserved their victory.
Sliema were the first to create a scoring opportunity with Dos Santos setting JP Farrugia in the area, but the latter’s shot on the turn went wide.
In the 19th minute, from a dos Santos freekick, it was Jonathan Pearson who headed over the bar.
Valletta’s reply arrived on the 24th minute. From a Cremona cross from the right, first Velasco and then Calistus both had shots blocked by Sliema defenders.
In the 35th minute, Sliema were awarded a freekick 20 metres out, but Dos Santos kicked the ball wildly over the bar.
Moments later, at the other end, it was Claudio Pani who had a hard shot going over.
In the 39th minute, Aquilina had his shot from the edge of the area providentially blocked by the diving Steve Borg.
Two minutes later, Aguirre had a good effort being turned to corner with difficulty by Sliema goalie Sarao.
On 50 minutes, it was Llewelyn Cremona who missed a good chance for Valletta, lifting the ball well over the bar.
Valletta continued with their pressing and Rowen Muscat was unlucky when he had a 25-metre shot hitting the upright with Sarao beaten all ends up.
On 62 minutes, Sliema went close through JP Farrugia whose low shot was excellently saved by the diving Bartkus. Immediately after, Sliema goalie Sarao turned protagonist with a reflex save off a Malano close range header following an Aguirre cross.
In the next minute Sliema took a dramatic lead when Mark Scerri received the ball from a bad clearance and beat Bartkus.
Immediately afterwards, at the other end, it was 1-1 as Velasco concluded a melee in front of the Sliema goal with the ball crossing the line before a Sliema defender cleared it.
And the drama was not over yet as in the 67th minute Valletta went into the driving seat. From a Rowen Muscat perfect cross, it was again Velasco who beat Sarao with a glorious header.
In the 71st minute, City goalie Bartkus dived sideways to save a Farrugia freekick. But on 77 minutes, it was Valletta who again went very close with a Luke Montebello header following a Velasco cross.
Valletta made sure of the three points when Calistus received a good ball on the right and advanced unhindered to beat Sarao for the third time.