Balzan                           2
Tarxien R.                     0

Balzan: S. Mintoff, A. Kosoric, N. Sljivic, S. Pisani, S. Bezzina, P. Fenech, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomirac (L. Micallef 66'), I. Bozovic (I. Bozovic 84f') , R. Correa Duarte (D.Camilleri 75'), A. Majdevac

Tarxien R.: M. Buhagiar, M. Botta, J. Wemmer (M. Ciantar 87') , J. Cruz Gill, D. Zerafa, G. Aquilina, A. De Barros, M. Tabone (M.Spiteri 61'), R. Silva Faria, A. Nilsson, J. De Paixao

Referee: Glen Tonna

Asst refs: William Debattista, Dusan Petrovic

4th official: Philip Farrugia

Scorers: Majdevac 70' (p), Kosoric 87'

Yellow cards: Bozovic, De Paixao, De Barros,  Majdevac

Player of the match: Andrija Majdevac (Balzan)

TMI Top 3:  1.  A. Majdevac         2.   M. Buhagiar         3.   I. Bozovic  

Attendance: 202

A  goal scored from the penalty spot by Andrija Majdevac and a header by Kosoric in the last twenty minutes of the match gave Balzan three important points and left Tarxien entangled in the relegation battle. It was a dull match which never came to life though Balzan held the upper hand all throughout.

Both teams went into this match desperate for points but for differenti motives. Balzan to keep on piling pressure on order to grab a European berth whereas Tarxien in order to save their status in the top flight.

Balzan were coming from a narrow win against St. Andrew's their win coming in the last minute through an Effiong goal. On the other hand Tarxien figured out an entertaining 2-2 draw against fellow stugglers Senglea.

In the first round Balzan ran out easy winners by a 3-1 scoreline.

The first minutes were rather drab and it was only in the 26th minute when Balzan went near. A Steve Pisani free kick was saved by Buhagiar with the help of the upright.

On 35 minutes Ljubomirac tried his luck with a low shot from the end of the area which was saved by the Tarxien custodian.

It was all Balzan in the first half and four minutes from the change of ends Buhagiar was once again the protagonist tipping over a long range shot by Paul Fenech.

The second half started with a Correa Duarte acute shot which was saved by Buhagiar. And in the 51st minute a Correa Duarte shot was deflected onto a corner. It was Kosoric turn to try his luck with a shot from outside the area which went wide off the mark.

Balzan were now increasing their tempo and in the 53rd minute off a Bozovic cross from the right side Buhagiar failed to intercept but Ljubomirac's shot was blocked.

In the 66th minute a Majdevac deflected shot was turned onto a corner by Buhagiar. And on 69 miinutes Balzan finally broke the deadlock.

Andrija Majdevac was brought down in the area by Matthew Spiteri with the referee awarding a penalty and the same penalty converted in style. A few minutes later Jose' Borg was given the marching orders from the bench.

Twelve minutes from the end a swift counter attack by Balzan ended with Effiong's shot being blocked by the Rainbows rearguard.

Five minutes from the end Tarxien appeals for a penalty were turned down after De Paixao appeared to have been brought down in the area.

Balzan sealed the issue three minutes from the end when off a Effiong corner in came Aleksander Kosoric who slotted the ball past a helpless Buhagiar.