Balzan FC 2
Qormi 1
Balzan suffered an early goal yesterday but found enough energy and determination to come from behind and beat Qormi by the odd goal in three to register their first victory of the season.
It was a deserved victory for Ivan Zammit’s boys as they absorbed the early Qormi pressure to retaliate strongly, especially in the second half, when they took the initiative and were the better team on the field of play.
Qormi made a fatal mistake – they elected to defend their slender lead early and operate in counter-attacks. That plan failed to bring about a second goal which would have given them a comfortable cushion.
Instead, it was Balzan who emerged the better team in the second half thanks to the intelligence of Calcado and the finishing of Da Silva, who scored the two goals, one of them a penalty.
Play was more or less balanced in the first half, but Qormi, perhaps, held a slight edge and created the better openings. They even contrived to miss an early penalty.
They defended in an organised manner and Balzan were left with little gaps to exploit. Moreover, whenever they attacked they looked menacing through the runs of Bello-Osagie who provided the Balzan defence with numerous worrying moments.
Ivan Zammit’s boys tried hard to get back into the game after suffering the goal, but found it hard to penetrate despite the intelligent promptings of Calcado from midfield.
In the second half, the pattern changed as Balzan took hold of midfield and after scoring a deserved equaliser, they went on to score the winner with Qormi’s desperate late effort failing to bring about the desired result.
After just four minutes, Qormi went very close to open the scoring when Spiteri passed to Grech whose cross-shot just missed the target.
Balzan replied with an Elton Da Silva grounder being saved by Sultana.
It was Qormi who lost a good chance to take the lead on the ninth minute when Yessous Camilleri handled a Bilboa Zarate cross in the area, but from the resultant spotkick, Pisani saw his shot being saved by Camilleri with a rebound being blocked by a Balzan defender.
However three minutes later, Qormi were in front. It was Abubaker Bello-Osagie who received a ball from Pisani, and after a good solo move, beat Camilleri with a low shot.
On 23 minutes, Balzan threatened through a Garcia Conceicao header off a Calcado cornerkick, but the ball went just over.
On 26 minutes, off a Da Silva cross, the ball fell kindly in Dylan Grima’s path, but he skied the ball from only five metres.
Qormi went close to adding a second on 35 minutes. Off a Bartolo freekick, it was Gaetan Spiteri who brought the best out of Camilleri who turned the ball to corner in style.
Soon after the second half started, Gaetan Spiteri saw his effort going inches wide of the post.
At the other end, Da Silva also had his cross-shot going just wide.
Camilleri was then called upon to block with his feet a Pisani effort.
On 57 minutes, it was again Camilleri who denied Bello-Osagie after the latter indulged in another solo action.
Balzan equalised on the 65th minute when Calcado pinpointed a perfect pass to the unmarked Deanov who, with Sultana rushing out of his charge, unselfishly passed to the other unmarked Elton Da Silva who had no difficulty in planting the ball into an empty net.
Balzan were awarded a penalty when Calcado was deemed to have been floored in a tackle with Sammut and Gauci. From the spot-kick, Da Silva made no mistake to shoot his team in front.
Qormi tried desperately to save the match but goalie Camilleri again denied Thackray with a splendid save near the end.
Balzan: M. Camilleri, D. Grima, M. Mendy, R. Forace, J. Pace, Y. Camilleri, B. Bondin, R. Garcia Conceicao (A. Agius), C. Caruana (M. Deanov), P. Calcado, E. Da Silva (C. Micallef).
Qormi: S. Sultana, K. Thackray, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, V. Pisani, A. Bello-Osagie, E. Bilboa Zarate, G. Spiteri (J. Chetcuti), J. Bondin, G. Buttigieg, L. Grech (M. Gauci).
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst refs: P. Apap, R. Vella
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: A. Bello-Osagie, E. Da Silva 2 (1 penalty),
Yellow cards: P. Calcado, M. Sultana, A. Agius, B. Bondin,
Player of the match: E. Da Silva
TMI Top 3: 1. E. Da Silva, 2. A. Bello-Osagie; 3. P. Calcado