Melita 2
Balzan Y 1
APS Bank U-17 Section A
The final score does not reflect the true difference between the two teams as Melita created much more occasions than Balzan and had they taken all the chances the final score would have been much different.
Melita are now in third place on 28 points from 15 games while Balzan are in penultimate position having only five points from 14 games.
The first action came from Melita after four minutes when Daniel Cluett, son of the late David, served Zachary Mizzi in the area but Balzan keeper Jacob Cipriott foiled him by diving at his feet to smother the ball.
In Melita’s next attack in the eighth minute, they opened the score as Mizzi served Jean P. Attard in the area and he netted with a low shot.
Five minutes later they came close to scoring again when Attard saw goalie Cipriott saving his effort in two attempts.
Balzan restored equilibrium in the 17th minute when Kevin Farrugia served Joshua Abela in the area and he scored with a low shot beating Melita keeper Nicholas Mizzi.
The last two actions before the break came from Balzan. Daniel Cassar served Joshua Abela in the area and after Mizzi partially saved his shot, the ball missed the upright from Kevin Farrugia’s rebound and Christian Sciberras served substitute Malcolm Agius Millo with a through ball, who in turn served Farrugia in the area and Mizzi saved his shot in two attempts.
Soon after the resumption Melita mounted two actions in a row. Alex De Marco served Zachary Mizzi in the area and Cipriott denied him with a save in two attempts.
In the 46th minute they were denied by the woodwork as Attard hit the upright with a shot from a distance.
In the 54th minute Melita reganied their slender lead. Luke Agius was fouled in midfield and Julian Fenech Adami took charge of the free kick, scoring with a hard rising shot from 50 metres.
In the 73rd minute Balzan were reduced to 10 men when Jurgen Muscat was shown the red card for violent conduct.
In the first minute of added time they were reduced to nine men as team-mate Kevin Camilleri had the same fate for the same offence.
Referee: Luke Portelli
Player of the match: Zachary Mizzi (Melita)