Valletta 4
Balzan 1
Valletta: H. Bonello, S. Borg, M. Piciollo (R. Camilleri 64), J. Borg, E. Pena Beltre, J. Zerafa, SRI Saleh (B. Gavrila 82), R. Muscat, MA Alba, B. Kaljevic (J. Caruana 77), M. Fontanella
Balzan: S. Sultana, N. Sljivic (J. Grioli 88), A. Da Paixao, S. Bezzina (S. Cipriott 75), M. Johnson, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomirac, I. Bozovic, E. Serrano Valero, A. Majdevac, M. Lepovic
Referee: S. Pace
Asst refs: D. Sultana, William Debattista
4th official: P. Farrugia
Scorers: U. Ljubomirac 4, M. Fontanella 43, 47, B. Kaljevic 72, P. Beltre 86
Yellow cards: M. Johnson 17, A. Majdevac 29, A. Da Paixao 49, E. Serrano Valero 75, B. Kaljevic 72
Player of the match: M. Fontanella
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Fontanella, 2. B. Kaljevic, 3, M. Lepovic
Attendance: 1,124
Valletta moved to second place on 12 points after coming from behind to beat Balzan 4-1 in a keenly contested match.
Ljubomirac had given Balzan an early lead after just four minutes, but Valletta hit back strongly to equalise through Fontanella just before the interval and then scoring a further three goals through the same Fontanella, Kaljevic and Beltre on the change of ends.
The City win only confirmed the current splendid form of Doncic's team. It was their 4th consecutive win and in such mood, I will not be surprised that they will be leading the standings sooner or later.
Valletta had Malano missing from the squad and Ryan Camilleri starting the game on the bench.
In the first half, Balzan took an early lead which somehow or other conditioned the match. In fact, they elected to play cautiously and attack in fast breakaways.
The Citizens attacked for long stretches and they went close on at least two occasions before they eventually scored a richly deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time.
In the second half, Valletta took command after Fontanella scored a second goal and they went on to make sure of their win with two more goals from Kaljevic and Beltre.
On 3 minutes, Balzan had a good chance to open the scoring, but from a Ljubomirac cross, Da Paixao headed wide from a good position.
A minute later, however, they managed to take the lead when Ljubomirac advanced into the City area on a through pass and beat the onrushing Bonello.
In the 18th minute, Valletta went very close to an equaliser when following an Alba freekick, the ball was cleared out to Pena Beltre whose first timer hit the crossbar with Sultana beaten.
In the 28th minute, Valletta again threatened through a Beltre shot which was partially parried by Sultana, but Kaljevic flicked wide from close range.
Soon after, at the other end, from a Lepovic cornerkick, Serrano Valero saw his beautiful first time shot going just over.
On the 40th minute, from another Beltre low cross, Kaljevic saw his effort going wide.
At the other end, Effiong set Ljubomirac in the City area, but his effort was blocked by a Valletta defender.
Valletta eventually equalised two minutes from the end of normal time. It was Bojan Kaljevic who headed goalwards; the ball was missed by goalie Sultana and Alba crossed low into the goalmouth where Fontanella had no difficulty in planting the ball into the net.
Valletta took the lead on the 47th minute. It was Kaljevic who set Fontanella in the Balzan area, and the former Floriana striker, beat Sultana with a low, angled shot.
Balzan hit back strongly and it was goalie Bonello who saved the City fort twice in two minutes, first blocking a dangerous Majdevac incursion and then saving a close range Effiong humdinger.
In the 62nd minute Da Paixao had a shot deviated to a corner by the City defence.
Three minutes later, Piciollo set Fontanella in the area, but Johnson blocked the City's striker's effort.
It was 3-1 in the 72nd minute when Fontanella advanced unhindered but had his shot blocked. The ball went to Kaljevic whose shot, deviated by a Balzan defender, ended at the back of the net.
In the 81st minute, it was Balzan goalie Sultana who denied Saleh with a great save. And two minutes later, Fontanella advanced unhindered only to fire the ball wide with only Sultana to beat.
Pena Beltre sealed the result on 4-1, scoring the final goal on 86 minutes after a solo run on the right flank.