Balzan FC. 1

Birkirkara 2

Balzan: M. Camilleri, M. Mendy, R. Forace (M. Licari), S. Giglio, J. Francica (A. Agius), Y. Camilleri, J. Pace, D. Grima, P. Calcado, M. Deanov (B. Bondin), E. Da Silva

Birkirkara: R. Gauci, Z. Muscat, A. Mendoza, R. Camenzuli, R. Muscat, R. Scicluna, G. Sciberras, P. Fenech, Jhonnattan (F. Zammit), Joselito (J. Zerafa), S. Shodiya (J.P. Mifsud Triganza)

Referee: A. Arciola

Asst.refs: S. Attard, A. Grech

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: S. Shodiya 10, R. Muscat 39, M. Licari 89

Yellow cards: R. Scicluna, J. Pace, Z. Muscat, M. Deanov,E. Da Silva, P. Calcado, B. Bomndin

Red card: R. Scicluna

Player of the match: Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. Jhonnattan 2. P. Calcado 3. R. Camenzuli

Attendance: 1,293

Birkirkara join Hibernians and Valletta at the top of the standings this morning after shrugging off the challenge of Balzan.

An early Shodiya goal after ten minutes and another from Rowen Muscat six minutes befoere the break, gave the Stripes a deserved lead as they were the better team in the first half.

But Birkirkara were made to fight hard to resist Balzan’s rally in the second period and went through some really anxious moments to finally preserve their lead. Down to ten men for the last ten minutes, following Ryan Scicluna’s dismissal, Birkirkara conceded Balzan’s late goal in the dying minutes, only to emerge unscathed from a gruelling and eventful second 45 minutes.

Balzan were over reliant on their mastermind Pedro Calcado. Almost always from his feet started his side’s most pleasing passes, besides himself being dangerous from dead ball situations. But they were highly more involved in the second period and fully deserved their aconsolation goal, although it came late in the game. Balzan had gone close on several occasions before as they were denied by the woodwork and some smart saves from the Birkirkara keeper Rueben Gauci.

With Renato Conceicao suspended and Aaron Agius relegated to the bench, Balzan made two changes in their line-up as they handed starts to the returning captain Jonathan Francica and Martin Deanov.

For the first quarter hour, Shola Shodiya ran the show, showing glimpses of his talents when after three minutes he connected on Jhonnattan’s cross from the left that cut the entire Balzan defence to hit narrowly off target.

Seven minutes later he did better when put clear by Jhonnattan with a low flick of the ball and kept his cool to beat keeper Camilleri with a well placed shot.

Seconds earlier, Joselito had also gone close with his shot that rebounded off the bar.

But on 18 minutes Shodiya was forced to leave the pitch with a knee injury and was substituted by Mifsud Triganza.

Birkirkara’s early flurry abated, as Balzan started to create some decent chances Towards the half hour, Calcado tested keeper Gauci with a shot from a distance, turned into a corner with some difficulty.

Birkirkara were forced to make their second substitution on 35 minutes. Joselito was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury when involved in a tackle with Francica. Joseph Zerafa went in.

Uneffected by the change, Birkirkara still looked good enough to double their lead on 39 minutes, although in a rather fortuitous manner. Jhonnattan’s shot was deflected in the path of Rowen Muscat who needed to stretch his foot and steer the ball past the stranded Balzan keeper.

With halftime looming, Balzan made a strong reaction. Calcado’s central direct free kick was deflecdted against the Birkirkara wall into a corner, with their best chance on 45 minutes when Calcado cut a low cross from the byeline for Mendy, whose shot was blocked by Mendoza and ran loose to the unmarked Deanov who lofted the ball in front of goal.

Birkirkara took a more laid back approach in the second half, opting to defend their two-goal lead, although Balzan summoned more effort going forward, after substituting Francica with Agius.

Still, keeper Camilleri had to stretch backwards to hold out Camenzuli’s insidious cross shot from the lefgt.

On 66 minutes, Calcado latched on Elton’s retrurn pass and ran inside the Birkirkara area, only for keeper Gauci to save on the ground.

Balzan threatened again on 69 minutes. On a deep Calcado free kick, Yessous Camilleri’s glancing header almost beat keeper Gauci but defender Mendoza cleared off the line.

Balzan should have cut the deficit on 79 minutes. Elton’s cross was fisted out by Gauci, the ball fell to the unmolested Mendy who thumped his shot against the bar. In the process, Ryan Scicluna, who was alraedy booked, was sent off for a crude tackle on Elton.

Balzan exploited their numerical superiority after a Grima long range free kick was tipped over the bar by the Birkirkara shot stopper.

And with one minute of regular time remaining, Balzan’s efforts were finally rewarded as substitute Malcolm Licari beat Gauci with a free header on Calcado’s cross from the left. That came too little too late.