Balzan-Birkirkara 1-3

      Balzan FC: M. Bartolo, J. Grioli (K. Magro), S. Bezzina, A. Scicluna, R. Dos Santos, F. Vignaroli, E. Zarate, P. Calcado, D. Grima (M. Spiteri), L.   Micallef (R. Darmanin), J.Armario Negrin

       Birkirkara: J. Haber, E. Herrera (R. Calheira), Z. Muscat, N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa, A. Mendoza, P. Fenech (E. Zarate), G. Sciberras, S. Shodiya, Jhonnattan (R. Camenzuli), R. Scicluna

      Referee: S. Spiteri

      Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Abela

      Additional asst.refs: A. Azzopardi, A. Arciola

     4th official: A.M. Sant

     Scorers: J. Armario Negrin 33, S. Shodiya 50, P. Fenech 54, R. Camenzuli 90+

     Yellow cards: G. Sciberras, E. Zarate, R. Dos Santos, J. Armario Negrin, D. Grima, Z. Muscat, R. Calheira

     Player of the match: S. Shodiya (Birkirkara)

     TMI top three: 1. S. Shodiya  2. P. Fenech  3. R. Dos Santos

Buoyed by a place in the top six, Balzan looked determined to make inroads in the Championship Pool in this second phase of the BoV Premier League. For the entire opening half they looked capable of taking something from their difficult encounter against leaders Birkirkara.

They scored past the half hour and looked good value for their advantage until the game dramatically turned in the second half.

Balzan’s good work was undone in the space of four frantic minutes soon after the interval. Credit to Birkirkara who, at times outpassed during the first 45 minutes, fought with a clinical edge to turn the match on its head soon after the interval through goals from Shola Shodiya and Paul Fenech, the two driving forces of a Birkirkara side still trying to recover from a shocking FA Trophy exit the previous week. Substitute Ryan Camenzuli put some gloss on the result with his added-time goal as the champions remain firmly at the top.

Paul Zammit had to do without the still injured Rowen Muscat. Zach Muscat therefore started as right back and Edward Herrera advanced in a wide position in front of him. Frank Temile was not included in the squad and Ryan Scicluna was given the nod instead.

The match had a cagey start. Balzan, who were very cautious at the back, were erratic with their passes in the final third. Birkirkara could find few openings and opted for shooting from around the Balzan penalty area.

When Shodiya robbed Andrew Scicluna of possession, his through pass towards Jhonnatan was a bit too long and keeper Bartolo could rush out of his line to smother the danger.

Although Birkirkara played the more intricate and neat football in the early stages, it was Balzan who could have gone ahead after 16 minutes. Calcado’s free kick from outside the area took a deflection for Ramon Dos Santos to head firmly towards goal and keeper Haber to turn the ball superbly over the bar into a corner.

But there was no denying Balzan on 33 minutes. Scicluna slipped inside teh Balzan half. Vignaroli won possession and played a long ball forward to Jose Armario Negrin, looking in a marginally offside position. But the assistant’s flag did not go up and the Spaniard advanced to beat keeper Haber with a low diagonal shot.

This served the right tonic for Balzan and,with Birkirkara making only a very flacid reaction, they could preserve their lead until halftime.

Both sides effected a substitution at the start of the second half. The Stripes put in Ronaille Calheira for Herrera and Balzan replaced Grioli with Kurt Magro.

Birkirkara’s move worked the better because on 50 minutes they levelled matters, thanks to an individual effort by their most potent forward Shola Shodiya. He took the ball in his stride and, marked by Vignaroli, he shifted towards the left and hit a cracking left-foot drive, beating keeper Bartolo at the top corner.

Hardly four minutes later, the champions turned the match on its head. Jhonnattan, with his back towards goal, laid the ball in the path of Paul Fenech who beat keeper Bartolo with another powerful rising shot.

Although Birkirkara had Fenech limping off on the hour, they remained in complete control and went close to scoring a third goal on 67 minutes when Shodiya disposessed Zarate, advanced from midfield and after avoiding even keeper Bartolo, he shot against the side netting. A minute later, Mendoza headed a Jhonnattan free kick inches wide.

Balzan’s best chance in this second half came through Negrin’s surging run down the right flank, blocked by the onrushing keeper Haber.

Substitute Ryan Camenzuli secured Birkirkara’s victory with impressive improvisation deep into three minutes of added time. He went past Ramon Dos Santos to advance clear and beat keeper Bartolo.