This battle between the two promoted sides ended all square. A point must have served Balzan Youths better, not only because they looked doomed to defeat and scored their equaliser in the dying minutes, but also because, added to the three points they won on the table last week, they lift themselves above both Mosta and Mqabba in the standings.
Mosta may feel aggrieved because they did enough to win this match. Apart from Ian Zammit’s goal from a free kick that gave them the lead just before halftime, Mosta were twice denied by the woodwork and were superior to their opponents for long stretches, especially in the second half.
But failing to finish off their opponents, they conceded a late Miguel Ciantar equaliser as Balzan produced a late rally to earn a point that looked beyond them.
Both teams introduced a new foreigner. Balzan had Brazilian wide player Fugner Lins Bernardes making his appearance in the starting line-up, which also included Jonathan Francica in central defence for the still injured Albanian Guga. Matthew Camilleri was relegated to the bench and Frederick Tabone played in goal instead.
Yannick Ossok from Cameroon was Mosta’s newcomer, partnering Kurt Magro in the back four. Gilbert Martin played only for half an hour, was injured and had to be substituted.
The first half was evenly balanced. Both sides had their chances, with Mosta looking dangerous from set pieces. Rivelino Petriaggi thumped his left foot free kick against the bar after 12 minutes. And on 21 minutes, after another of his free kicks was blocked by the Balzan wall, Petriaggi crossed for Mvondo who was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Mosta threatened again midway through the half. From a Zammit corner, Bogdanovic shot narrowly wide.
Balzan’s best patch in the first half came after 25 minutes. Grima hit Forace’s cross first time over the Mosta goal and then Tasic tested keeper Zammit with a drilling free kick from outside the area.
Balzan collapsed to concede Mosta’s goal three minutes before the interval, again from a dead ball situation. Ian Zammit caught keeper Tabone slightly off his line and lobbed a direct free kick from some 25 metres out.
And in added time, Mosta could have doubled their lead. Substitute Bajada played a square pass to Petriaggi who laid the ball to Martinelli, only to shoot against the foot of the post.
Mosta remained the better team in the second half. An Ian Zammit corner on 51 minutes fell to Bogdanovic who crossed but Mvondo headed wide.
Ian Zammit again went close with a rasping shot and towards the hour, Martinelli went inside the Balzan area. His shot was blocked into a corner.
On 65 minutes, on Mvondo’s cross, Petriaggi’s close range shot was blocked by the grounded Tabone and the Balzan custodian again saved Mvondo’s shot from the edge of the area.
Balzan put in Roderick Farrugia for Ciantar as they tried to move out of their defensive shell. They won a corner when Ciantar’s shot was deflected on a Bernardes cross.
Then Ciantar and Forace, clear in front of the Mosta goal, failed to capitalise on another Bernardes cross.
On 82 minutes, substitute Borg forced keeper Zammit into a difficult save, turning his long range drive into a corner as the Youths probed for a late equaliser.
That came one minute from time. Miguel Ciantar capitalised on some hesitation in the Mosta defence and nipped past the keeper to slot the ball in.
Balzan Y: F. Tabone, J. Francica, C. Ciantar (R. Farrugia), R. Forace, Y. Camilleri, B. Bondin (A. Agius), N. Tasic, D. Grima, L. Micallef, M. Ciantar, F. Lins Bernardes (M. Borg)
Coach: I. Zammit
Mosta: G. Zammit, K. Farrugia, L. Martinelli, Y. Ossok, K. Magro, N. Bogdanovic, A. Cini, R. Petriaggi (F. Abulezz), G. Martin (J. Bajada), I. Zammit, M. Mvondo (F. Tisbe)
Coach: O. Spiteri
Referee: C. Lautier
Asst. refs: M. Debono, T. Debono
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann
Scorers: I. Zammit 41, M. Ciantar 89
Yellow cards: N. Bogdanovic, B. Bondin, M. Mvondo, F. Tisbe
Player of the match: Ian Zammit (Mosta)
TMI top 3: 1. N. Bogdanovic 2. J. Francica 3. I. Zammit