Mosta-Balzan 0-2
Mosta: O. Borg, K. Farrugia, T. Farrugia, M. Brincat, M. Micallef (A. Cini), R. Grech, R. Faria, A. Dos Santos (B. Kaljevic), Y. Messias, C. Fernandes, G.M. Piccioni
Balzan: L. Guilerme, J. Grioli, S. Bezzina, G. Calabretta (M. Spiteri), A. Scicluna, F. Vignaroli, D. Grima (G. McKay) (F. Aboulezz), L. Micallef, L. Sciberras, J. L. Negrin, A. Agius
Referee: M. Borg
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard
Additional asst.refs: A. M. Sant, P. Caruana
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: J. Negrin 16, L. Micallef 66
Yellow cards: A. Agius, G. Calabrertta, A. Dos Santos, G.M. Piccioni, T. Farrugia
Player of the match: D. Grima (Balzan FC)
TMI top three: 1. F. Vignaroli 2. D. Grima 3. J. Grioli
Balzan breathed some new life into their season with this important win over Mosta that lifts them above Qormi in eighth place in the League standings.
Balzan’s last win was against Vittoriosa Stars almost a month ago and since then they had lost twice and drew one.
Yesterday’s was a truly remarkable collective effort, down to hard work and perseverance, that rewarded them with three valubale points.In the togetherness and work ethics, Balzan looked more like a team, Mosta a collection of individuals. Although bereft of suspended defender Rodrigo Pererira, Grioli, Calabretta, Bezzina and Scicluna provided enough solidity at the back to hold out the threats of Piccioni and Kaljevic in the second half.
This was an inept performance by Mosta, much worse than the defeat by Birkirkara the previous week.
They were without Ismael Grech, Ekani and Duriska but that is no excuse for their bitty display yesterday, profligate in possession, slow in thought and unable to find the net for only the second time in eight matches.
Balzan took a cautious approach in the initial stages but gradually grew in composure when they sensed that the points were there for the taking. The industry of Vignaroli, Sciberras and Grima in midfield matched, if not surpassed, the workrate of Mosta’s Grech, Faria and Messisas as the Blues were unable to take a grip on the proceedings.
Mosta could only threaten on set pieces and took long to react after falling in arrears. Balzan had taken the lead just past the quarter hour. Grima played the ball forward for Jose Negrin to advance inside the Mosta area and despite Tyrone Farrugia’s challenge, he managed to beat keeper Borg with a low diagonal drive.
A flacid response by Mosta towards the half hour, had the ball go past several players inside the Balzan area, on an Armando freekick, it fell to Tyrone Farrugia who was blocked by keeper Guilerme. A Piccioni meaty free kick from the left on 32 minutes was tippesd over the bar into a corner by the Balzan keeper, who again blocked with some difficulty Piccioni’s shot from a distance five minutes later.
Mosta put in Bojan Kaljevic for Armando for the second period and increased their efforts r. They twice went close to an equaliser in as many minutes past the hour. Piccioni’s firm header, on Fernandes’ free kick, was turned into a corner by keeper Guilerme and then Kaljevic thunderous shot rebounded off the underside of the bar on a Messia’s cross.
Mosta paid dearly for those misses. On 66 minutes, Balzan, who had been absorbing the pressure, broke out. Grioli played a diagonal deep cross from midfield behind the unsettled Mosta defence. Lydon Micallef connected to beat keeper Borg and double his side’s lead.
On the balance of play, Mosta never looked likely to recover and Balzan could have even added more gloss to their win in the late stages. Micallef swivelled and turned dangerously inside the Mosta area but Negrin failed to make the best of his pass. Micallef himself missed the target on Calabretta’s cross five minutes from time.
Just before the final whistle, Mosta and Kaljevic were denied by the woodwork for the second time as the upright held out his tame header on substitute Cini’s cross from the right.