Balzan-Valletta 1-3
Valletta:Y. Cini, J. Caruana, S. Borg, E. Agius, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, R. Briffa, O. Reyes Sanchez, L. Elford-Alliyu, A. da Silva Souza (L. Cremona), D. Rocha dos Santos, I. Maisuradze
Balzan: M. Bartolo, K. Magro, S. Bezzina, A. Scicluna, R. Dos Santos, F. Vignaroli, D. Grima (M. Spiteri 68’), E. Bilbao Zarate, P. dos Santos Calcado, L. Micallef, J.L. Armario Negrin (R. Darmanin 68’)
Scorers: J. Caruana 20’, L. Elford Alliyu 54’, E. Agius 88’ (V), L. Micallef 82’ (B)
Yellow Cards: K. Magro 23’, D. Grima 44’, F. Vignaroli 71’ (B), I. Maisuradze 48’ (V)
Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Luke Portelli
4th Official: Glenn Tonna
BOV Player of the Match: Lateef Elford Aliyu (Valletta)
Attendance: 810
Valletta returned to winning ways when they defeated Balzan 3-1 in a match in which their performance could have been better.
Edmond Agius’s wonderful late strike sealed the win for Valletta as Balzan scored a late goal to pile some pressure on the citizens.
The important thing for Valletta was to return to win but they have to perform much better if they want to win the championship.
Andre Paus made four changes from their last match with Yenz Cini given a chance to guide the posts while Oscar Reyes Sanchez, who took his place in the absence of Shaun Bajada, and Ian Azzopardi returned to the starting 11.
Denni dos Santos and Mifsud Triganza were also back in the starting line-up instead of the suspended Ryan Fenech and Nafti. Balzan lacked Justin Grioli.
Valletta were better than their opponents in the first half but they lowered their rhythm. Paus’s team opened the score on the 20th minute when Denni Rocha dos Santos crossed in the area and Jonathan Caruana headed past Bartolo. Balzan replied on the 28th minute when a free-kick by Calcado was denied by the crossbar.
On the 31st minute a shot from outside the penalty area by Maisuradze finished over the bar. Four minutes later Edmond Agius set Denni dos Santos but his shot was turned into a corner.
Valletta doubled their lead on the 54th minute when a shot from Denni dos Santos was blocked, the ball finished in the path of Lateef Elford Aliyu who controlled the ball and nailed it in past Bartolo.
Valletta could have added a third on the 61st minute when Lateef Elford Aliyu chipped over Bartolo but his effort was denied by the crossbar.
Balzan pulled one back on the 82nd minute when Lydon Micallef managed to beat Cini with a low shot from the edge of the box. Valletta could have close the match on the 87th minute but Bartolo tipped to a corner the shot by Mifsud Triganza.
But Valletta were not to be denied and they sealed the issue a minute later when a cross by substitute Llywelyn Cremona was only partially cleared by the Balzan defence with the ball rolling out to Edmond Agius whose stunning effort gave Bartolo no chance.