Miguel Ciantar, a product of Sliema Wanderers, now playing his trade with Balzan Youths, went off the bench yesterday to score his side’s winner in added time and doom Sliema to their third league defeat, in most dramatic fashion.

Balzan seemed to have blown it all up when only minutes earlier they were awarded a penalty but their Brazilian Pedro Calcado had his shot saved by Sliema keeper John Bonello.

This win, which keeps them unbeaten in their last three outings, now puts them in sixth place in the standings, one point above Qormi and two adrift of Birkirkara and Sliema above them.

Just as if to justify that last week’s late victory against Birkirkara had flattered them, Sliema Wanderers again looked a disjointed side, bereft of ideas and conviction for too long yesterday.

They gave away their early lead too quickly as Balzan always looked nippier on the ball and finally paid for their laid back approach.

Sliema were missing the industry of the suspended Roderick Bajada in midfield. Mark Scerri and Ryan Fenech played in front of the defence, also without the suspended Beppe Muscat. Clifford Gatt Baldacchino was given a start at right back.

Sliema also included new signing Emiliano Lattes in their starting line-up as Cleaven Frendo was exiled to the bench.

The match had a fiery start. Within the first minute, Eviparker headed Tasic’s cross just over and Ani tested Balzan keeper Matthew Camilleri with a cross shot that was turned into a corner.

On 14 minutes, Sliema defender Gatt Baldacchino was lucky to escape with only a caution following a late frontal crude tackle on Francica.

One minute later Sliema broke the deadlock. Ryan Fenech buried his shot from the edge of the area at the far end, after the ball had taken a slight deflection, leaving the keeper stranded.

As Balzan tried to regroup, Francica’s clearance rebounded off Ani and forced keeper Camilleri to stretch himself backwards to pull a difficult save.

But the Wanderers failed to build on their advantage. To their credit, Balzan were not demorilised and pulled themselves into the match with an equaliser on 27 minutes.

Their best player Pedro Calcado chased a long Deanov pass through the middle, shrugged off Mifsud’s tackle and managed to slot the ball past keeper Bonello.

The match lost much of its gloss after that with Balzan turning the ball around in livly fashion and Sliema chasing their opponents.

It was only towards the break that Mitev shot narrowly wide and on the other end Calcado tested keeper Bonello with a powerful drive from the edge of the area.

In dire need of a change, Sliema put in Alex Muscat and Cleaven Frendo for the second half. Fenech went past two opponents and ran in for Ani’s return pass but was blocked by the keeper ner the byeline.

Towards the hour, Balzan were forced to substitute the injured Forace before Mitev’s cross from the right reached Mifsud at the far end but keeper Camilleri saved into a corner.

Balzan kept trading equal punches with their opponents and had their moments, with the marauding runs of Calcado, with Eviparker roaming dangerously in open spaces.

A Calcado free kick was fisted away by keeper Bonello and the Sliema custodian came to his side’s rescue on 73 minutes when he twice denied Eviparker, blocking successive shots, after the Balzan forward had created space inside the Sliema defence.

With both teams probing for a winner, all tactical plans were disrupted. Both sides missed opportunities as Eviparker hit Calcado’s cross wide and both Mitev and Fenech failed to find the target for Sliema.

But the match reserved further excitement. Two minutes from normal time, Mifsud felled substitute Bernardes inside the area to concede a penalty for Sliema. Keeper Bonello turned hero, saving Calcado’s shot from the spot.

Balzan seemed to have blown it all away. But in more than four frantic minutes of added time, during which Balzan’s Francica and Sliema’s Mitev were both sent off after being involved in a skirmish, substitute Miguel Ciantar darted inside the Sliema area, sidestepped the keeper to score Balzan’s winner in a most dramatic finale.

Balzan Y M. Camilleri, Y. Camilleri, J. Francica, B. Guga, R. Forace (S. Ciscaldi), D. Grima, N. Tasic, B. Bondin, M. Deanov (M. Ciantar), P. Calcado, A. Eviparker (F. Bernardes)

Coach I. Zammit

Sliema W H. Bonello, J. Mifsud, M. Scerri, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (C. Frendo), D. Mitev, S. Bezzina (T. Thomas), C. Gatt Baldcchino (A. Muscat), R. Fenech, R. Galabov, J. Ani, E. Lattes

Coach D. Doncic

Referee E. Azzopardi

Asst.refs E. Spiteri, M. Scerri

4th official K. Azzopardi

Scorers R. Fenech 15, P. Calcado 27, M. Ciantar 90+

Yellow cards C. Gatt Baldacchino, B. Bondin, R. Forace, R. Fenech, Y. Camilleri, B. Guga

Red cards D. Mitev, J. Francica

Player of the match Pedro Calcado (Balzan Y)

TMI top 3 1. P. Calcado 2. H. Bonello 3. B. Guga