Naxxar-Balzan 0-1
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, V. Bellia, A. Buhagiar, R. Cassar (D.Falzon), G. Ribeiro, A. Decesare (A. Rocha Da Silva), M. Del Negro, T. Lopes, D. Reano, T. Scerri, F. Stojanovic (M. Vignjevic)
Balzan: M. Bartolo, A. Scicluna (K. Magro), J. Grioli, S. Bezzina, R. Dos Santos, F. Vignaroli, D. Grima (L. Sciberras), P. Calcado, E. Zarate, L. Micallef, J. Armario Negrin (R. Darmanin)
Referee: M. Borg
Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, A. Camilleri
Additional asst.refs: A.M. Sant, A. Azzopardi
4th official: W. Debattista
Scorers: L. Micallef 43
Yellow cards: A. Scicluna, F. Vignaroli, V. Bellia, D. Reano, K. Magro, T. Scerri
Player of the match: E. Zarate (Balzan FC)
TMI top three: 1. F. Vignaroli 2. S. Bezzina 3. A. Buhagiar
Lydon Micallef scored a first-half goal of immeasurable importance for Balzan, yesterday that helped his side beat Naxxar Lions and keep their hopes of making it with the top six alive and kicking.
It was a do-or-die affair for Balzan yesterday, trailing their opponents by five points before kick off, knowing that only victory would serve their purpose. They now close the gap to two points with matches against Tarxien Rainbows and Valletta remaining before the end of the first phase.
A victory for Naxxar would have assured them of a place in the Championship Pool but their game plan to hold for a draw backfired at the end. Naxxar’s laid-back approach in the first half handed Balzan too much of the initiative and finally they collapsed to concede the goal shortly before halftime.
Naxxar were more adventurous in the second half but Balzan could defend their minimal lead then to win full points.
Kick off was delayed by ten minutes after the Balzan squad arrived at the Hibernians Stadium only minutes before time due to heavy congestion of traffic in the Marsa vicinity.
The match started at a hectic pace, thanks mostly to Balzan’s willingness to move forward. The early running, in search of an early goal, kept the Naxxar defence under some sustained pressure for most of the first quarter hour.
Zarate broke from midfield after three minutes, advanced towards goal but his shot was easily saved by Naxxar keeper Azzopardi. Grima raced in from the right for Vignaroli’s deep cross from the left, but failed to conclude.
Naxxar’s build-ups looked slow. Ribeiro and Stojanovic failed to combine to any telling effect, when bullied by Vignaroli and Dylan Grima in midfield, with Stojanovic giving away possession too cheaply.
On 12 minutes Negrin ran down the right flank, crossed for Zarate who had open space in the middle but shot feebly on keeper Azzopardi.
A lull in proceedings followed as the rhytm fell to a more familiar pattern, before, on the half hour, Grima chased a Zarate through ball inside the Naxxar area but was blocked into a corner by the goalkeeper.
Negrin tested Azzopardi again on 36 minutes with a powerful shot before Stojanovic’s persistent run on the left earned Naxxar the first corner after 38 minutes and then Cassar’s shot from a distance went wide.
Two minutes before the break, Balzan scored the goal they richly deserved. Calcado and Zarate started the move from midfield and the latter’s through pass caught the Naxxar defence on the hop as Lydon Micallef ran past the grounded keeper and steered the ball over the line despite Decesare’s attempt to block him.
Balzan looked good value for their advantage at halftime.
Naxxar put in Vignjevic for Stojanovic at the start of the second half and soon after, Balzan were forced to replace the injured Scicluna with Kurt Magro.But tactically that changed nothing, except that the Lions looked more lively. On 53 minutes power and speed took Buhagiar past his opponent down the right flank. His cross was well met by Ribeiro, whose shot was ably saved by Balzan keeper Bartolo.
Vignjevic twisted and turned inside the Balzan area, before playing the ball wide to Buhagiar, whose grounder was again held out by the goalkeeper.
As Balzan looked happy with their lead, Naxxar tried to funnel their attacks from the flanks in search of an equaliser. On 73 minutes they even introduced another striker, Darren Falzon, for Cassar. Balzan’s immediate response was Negrin’s substitution with Ryan Darmanin. The latter tried his luck from a distance, after the ball bounced invitingly inside the Balzan area, only for Scerri to hit over.
Balzan seemed to tire out in the late stages, with the early niceities long forgotten, but Naxxar failed to summon enough effort to at least take a point in a frantic finish. The closest they went was a Vignjevic strike from a corner, that rebounded off the bar, in the dying minutes. His effort surely deserved a better fate.