Birkirkara 3
Balzan 3
Birkirkara: A. Hogg, E. Pepe, M. Vella, M. Mifsud, F. Falcone, C. Attard, CH Prado, OM Carniello (G. Bugeja 79), , MA Alba (K. Zammit 89), R. Fenech, IT Ntow
Balzan: K. Naumovski, A. Kosoric, S. Bezzina, M. Johnson, P. Fenech (L. Micallef 90), A. Effiong (A. Majdevac 67), U. Ljubomirac, I. Bozovic, R. Correa, A. Faria (R. Scicluna 78), L. Montebello
Referee: P. Farrugia
Asst refs: A. Camilleri, T. Debono
4th official: A. Sciriha
Scorers: L. Montebello 6, F. Falcone 37, M. Alba 45, 85 pen., R. Correa 57, K. Naumovski 90
Yellow cards: A. Effiong 28, E. Pepe 32, M. Vella 41, R. Correa 64, I. Ntow 72, P. Fenech 74
BoV Player of the match: R. Correa
TMI Top 3: 1. L. Montebello, 2. M. Alba, 3. R. Correa
Attendance: 839
Goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski turned from villain to hero in the second match at the National Stadium yesterday.
He scored a late equaliser for his side against his former team to deny Birkirkara their first win of the season.
Earlier Balzan had scored through Luke Montebello and Ricardo Correa, while Federico Falcone and Miguel Alba scored twice to put the Stripes 3-2 ahead.
It was a match which could have gone either way, as both sides created good chances.
Balzan now move onto the 4-point mark, while Birkirkara have opened their account - they have one point from three matches.
In the opening stages of the first half, Balzan seemed to be well in control of the proceedings, especially after taking an early sixth minute lead from Luke Montebello.
They appeared to be superior in midfield and looked more aggressive and better organised than their opponents, but after missing a couple of other chances through the same Montebello, Birkirkara started to show improvement and slowly, but surely, came back into the picture, though failing to trouble goalie Naumovski.
Before the interval, they finally managed first to equalise and then to take the lead through a gift goal from former Stripes goalie Kristijan Naumovski.
In the second half the exchanges were shared equally, but Balzan produced a good effort to obtain an equaliser.
From then on, the Stripes seemed to have an edge in midfield, but they found it rather difficult to get past a strong Balzan defence in which goalie Naumovski was now a protagonist as he twice denied the Stripes from almost certain goals.
It was five minutes from the 90th that they seemed to have secured their win through a penalty, converted in style by Alba. But there was still time for Balzan to retaliate and score an equaliser in added time through goalkeeper Naumovski who thus made amends for his first half fluke.
Balzan took an early lead when after just six minutes, it was former Stripes striker Luke Montebello who beat goalie Andrew Hogg with a splendid shot from the edge of the area.
Birkirkara replied on 14 minutes with a Michael Mifsud shot being palmed out by Naumovski; the ball returned to Mifsud, but his second shot went just wide.
Five minutes later, at the other end, Ricardo Correa had a freekick going just over the bar.
Balzan again threatened on 35 minutes. From a Bozovic cross, it was again Montebello who tried his luck from inside the area, but his shot went over the bar.
The Stripes managed to equalise in the 37th minute. It was Miguel Alba who pinpointed a good pass towards Federico Falcone who controlled the ball well before beating Naumovski with a good low shot.
The Stripes also managed to take a 2-1 lead just before the interval when a harmless looking Miguel Alba shot was completely fumbled by goalie Naumovski who failed to hold the ball off the low shot. The ball hit his legs and ended at the back of the net.
Soon after the start of the second half, Montebello was again prominent with a good volley, but the effort finished over the post.
Balzan were back on level terms on 57 minutes with a fine shot from Ricardo Correa that beat goalie Hogg all ends up.
On the 76th minute, Naumovski was Balzan's saviour this time, as he blocked a Michael Mifsud effort with his feet.
In the 80th minute, it was again Naumovski who denied the Stripes, this time saving a Prado effort from the angle.
In the 85th minute, Birkirkara were awarded a penalty when substitute Ryan Scicluna upended Prado in the area. The official showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot from where Alba scored to put his team 3-2 ahead.
Just when Birkirkara were thinking of celebrating their first win, they had a big shock as Balzan equalised deep into stoppage time. From a corner from the left, it was goalie Naumovski, in the area with his team-mates, who headed into the Stripes net for a deserved equaliser.