Balzan-Vittoriosa 2-1
Balzan FC: M. Falzon, J. Grioli, S. Bezzina, A. Scicluna, R. Pereira, F. Vignaroli, L. Sciberras (G. Calabretta), Joselito (G. McKay), D. Grima, L. Micallef (A. Agius), J. Armario Negrin
Vittoriosa: S. Cini, M. Buttigieg, M. Barbara (G. Martin), M. Pereira, C. Spiteri (R. Mifsud), C. Brincat, O. Guerrero, R. Dos Santos, M.Teruel, J.F. Aguiar, S. Arab (M. Camilleri)
Referee: P. Farrugia
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, T. Debono
4th official: G. Tonna
Scorers: J. Negrin 32, J.F. Aguiar 45, L. Micallef 58
Yellow cards: S. Bezzina, L. Sciberras, J. Grioli, G. Martin, M. Buttigieg, R. Mifsud
Player of the match: F. Vignaroli (Balzan)
TMI top three: 1. F. Vignaroli 2. L. Sciberras 3. M. Teruel
Balzan started the second round on an upward curve, beating Vittorioss a Stars by the odd goal in three to maintain their recent progress under coach Jesmond Zerafa.
It was an evenly balanced match between two teams still struggling to find some consistency. The first half ended in a 1-1 draw but Balzan showed superiority after the restart. They looked good value for their lead until the last quarter hour when Vittoriosa gave their all, probing for an equaliser.
Balzan made only one change from the side that held Valletta to a one-all draw before the international break. Gianluca Calabretta was exiled to the bench as Rodrigo Pereira returned in the heart of their defence. Regular keeper Martinez is still on the way towards recovery and Michael Falzon again played in the Balzan goal, giving a very valiod contibution, especially in the late satges.
They did the early running, with Fabio Vignaroli, Luke Sciberras and Lydon Micallef highly involved in their moves.
Vittoriosa, who gave a start to Mark Barbara on the right flank, took some time to settle into the match but they were the first to produce a real threat towards the quarter hour. Teruel’s free kick from the edge of the Balzan area on the left, took a defelction off the wall, the ball fell to Barbara who tested keeper Falzon with a low tame drive.
Vittoriosa were even nearer on 18 minutes. Marcelo Pereira hit a high ball first time against the bar.
That heralded the Stars’ best patch as Balzan again took the bit between their teeth and looked menacing midway through the half with a Negrin incursion from the right. He cut a low cross back for the unmarked Joselito but Ramon Dos Santos intercepted to clear into a corner.
On 32 minutes, Balzan won a corner from the left, kicked by Grima and fisted out by keeper Cini as far as Bezzina who delivered a floating cross inside the area for Jose Armario Negrin to connect well and hit the ball over the helpless Vittoriosa keeper.
Balzan looked safely in control and Scicluna had his effort going slightly wide until they were stunned by Vittoriosa’s leveller on the stroke of halftime. Jose Felipe Aguiar picked a loose ball from outside the Balzan area and drilled an unstoppable shot at the top right hand corner of keeper Falzon.
Balzan went into the second half more determined. They shrugged off an early scare after Guerrero’s header, on Teruel’s free kick, forced keeper Falzon to stretch himself and turn into a corner.
Two minutes short of the hour, Balzan restored the lead. Grioli played a long ball from midfield for Negrin to chase from the right, avoid the goalkeeper inside the Vittoriosa area and send a low cross towards the middle for the completely unmarked Lydon Micallef to tap in from close range.
The goal put them firmly in command and within a minute they nearly replicated the same move. Negrin ran dangerously inside the Vittoriosa area. This time his pass was too long for Micallef to reach.
Past the hour, Balzan carved out two good opportunities in quick succession that could have put their minds at rest. In the first, Joselito hit the cross bar with his shot from the edge of the area. In the second, Negrin fluffed the easiest of chances. After beating the Vittoriosa offside trap, on a Vignaroli through pass, he shot straight at the feet of the onrushing goalkeeper.
Vittoriosa looked likely to buckle but when Gilbert Martin, and later Michael Camilleri, were introduced, the Stars had more attacking options. In fact they increased their efforts in the final 15 minutes and went close to obtaining an equaliser.
They were only thwarted by some superlative goalkeeping from Michael Falzon. Ten minutes from time, he produced a terrific reaction save on Marcelo Pereira’s shot, who had connected well to Teruel’s deep cross from the right, and then again stretched himself to hold out Teruel’s shot in added time.