Balzan 0
B'Kara 0
Balzan: S. Sultana, A. Kosoric, N. Sljivic, E. Arab Siraj (L. Micallef 71'), S. Bezzina, P. Fenech (A. Effiong 90'), U. Ljubomirac, I. Bozovic, C. De Fiori Mendes, A. Majdevac, M. Lepovic
B'Kara: K. Naumovski, D. Chapoval, M. Guillaumier, M. Andelkovic, M. Vella (T.Agius 75' ), L. Montebello (M. Mifsud 65') , J. Grech, K. Zammit, E. Ferreira Dos Santos, C. Attard, M. Franca de Siqueira (Jorginho 65')
Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Asst refs: Edward Spiteri, Theodore Zammit
4th official: Stefan Pace
Yellow cards: M. Franca de Siqueira
Red Card: Terence Agius (B'Kara)
Player of the match: S. Sultana (Balzan)
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Majdevac 2. S. Sultana 3. M. Andelkovic
Neighbours Balzan and Birkirkara fired blanks in their first match of their second round committments. It was an evenly contested game with the Stripes starting brightly with Balzan having their best patch in the second part of the first half.
The Stripes were coming from three consecutive wins against Mota, Qormi and Senglea and went into this games is a different preposition. In fact they were led by John Arne Riise who was recently appointed as their Sporting Director. And surprisingly their was no sight of Paul Zammit who officially is still Birkirkara's coach.
Maurizio Vella was given a starting role with the other notable change being the inclusion of Luke Montebello who has now served his long suspension. Clayton Failla and Jorginho started on the bench with another recent recruit namely Johann Bezzina not included in the squad.
For Balzan their was the reunion of Paul Fenech who has rejoined Balzan and thus was facing his old colleagues on the first time of asking. Another debutant for Marko Micovic was defended Aleksander Kosoric with Elkin Serrano Valero missing through suspension.
In the first round clash between the two neighbours Birkirkara won the match by a solitary goal.
Balzan were the first to threaten and in the third minute an acute shot by De Fiori Mendes went inches wide. The Stripes responded five minutes later when Luke Montebello made his way on the left flank only for his low drive just missing out.
Birkirkara went near once again in the 19th minute but Franca De Siqueira's shot ended on the roof of the net. With Sultana coming to his side's rescue a minute later rushing out to anticipate Montebello and clear the danger.
Balzan ventured once again forward on 28 minutes with De Fiori Mendes testing Naumoviski but his low shot on the turn was saved by the Stripes goalkeeper. Eight minutes from the end of the first half off a Bozovic cross from the right flank Majdevac headed goalwards but his effort went wide off the mark.
In the 40th minute Bozovic was once again the supplier finding Ljubomoric in the centre of the area who after chesting down the ball fired but his shot missed the target.
Only few seconds had elapsed from the start of the second period when Sultana turned onto a corner a Montebello diagonal shot from inside the area. Play was now restricted mainly to the midfield area and it was only on 70 minutes when Balzan went close through Mejdavac but the latter shot wide when faced with Naumovski.
In the 82nd minute Guillamier's low shot from inside the area was saved by Sultana. With Terence Agius match lasting only nine minutes when he was shown a straight red for a foul on Paul Fenech.
Till the end Birkirkara controlled well with both teams sharing the spoils in a match which neither side held the upper hand.