Striker Alfred Effiong will go down in the history books after scoring four goals in the FA Trophy final, then sealed the victory in a penalty shoot-out after the 120 minutes against Valletta finished on a 4-4 score.
It was the first time ever that Balzan won the competition.
The score at 90 minutes was 2-2 but the Balzan striker added two more goals in extra-time to give Balzan a 4-2 lead. Valletta clawed their way back with a Fontanella penalty and a Rowen Muscat header, both scored in the last five minutes of extra-time.
A penalty shootout was needed to determine the winner, with Pulis missing for Valletta before Effiong netted the last penalty for a 9-8 final score (including penalties)
Valletta failed to make it a double after they had won the league.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Balzan 4
Valletta 4
(9-8 after penalties)
Simon Farrugia
Balzan FC.: S. Mintoff, A. Kosoric, N. Sljivic, S. Pisani (S. Cipriott 103’), S. Bezzina (A.Majdevac 77’), P. Fenech, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomiras, I. Bozovic, C. Fiori Mendes (D.Camilleri 34’) (J.Grioli 105’), R. Correa Duarte
Valletta : H.Bonello, J. Caruana, S. Borg (J. Zerafa 72’) , S. Malano, K. Nwoko, J. Borg, E. Pene Beltre (S. Dimech 120’), R. Saleh (N.Pulis 81’) , R. Muscat, B. Kaljevic (B. Gavrila 63’), M. Fontanella
Referee: Mario Apap
Asst refs: William Debattista, Paul Apap
4th official: Emanuel Grech
Scorers: Alfred Effiong 8’, 43’, 95, 104’ Pena Beltre 40’, 72’, Fontanella 115’, Muscat 118’
Yellow cards: Bonello, Fenech, Camilleri, Cipriott
Red Card: Gavrila
Attendance: 4,024
In an amazing match played at the National Stadium Balzan wrote history when they won the FA Trophy for the first time after defeating Valletta following a penalty shoot out. It was a match which had all the ingredients of a cup tie with Alfred ‘Poker’ Effiong being the toast of the town scoring all four Balzan goals. A win which also gives them Europa League participation.
Valletta have to be commanded for never giving up and mounting a reaction when two goals down in extra time, saving the match and taking it onto penalties.
Valletta went into this match chasing a hat trick of honours after winning the Premier League and the Super Cup. They were also looking to achieve another milestone which equals what Hamrun Spartans had done in the year 1987 when they achieved the double for two consecutive years.
After two runner-up finishes in two consecutive seasons 2016/17 and 2017/18 and losing the FA Trophy final in 2016 at Sliema Wanderers expense , Balzan were adamant that this would be the year for their first major honour.
During this season Balzan and Valletta met three times prior to this final with the Citizens always emerging as winners. Following a 4-1 win in the first round, Valletta defeated Balzan 2-1 lifting the BOV Super Cup before winning for the third time in the second round of the league with a 2-1 score.
This match was of particular interest for Hamrun Spartans who wanted a Valletta win which would hand them a Uefa Europe League spot after finishing fourth in the Premier League.
Balzan went in search of an early goal and in the first minute a Bozovic long range shot was partially saved by Bonello with Effiong’s rebound being blocked into a corner. From the resultant kick by Correa Duarte a headed effort by Effiong was saved in style by Bonello.
This early pressure by Balzan reaped dividends as on 8 minutes they went in the lead. Bozovic took control of the ball after a blunder by Rowen Muscat and his pass found Alfred Effiong who rounded Steve Borg and slotted the ball into the corner of the net.
Valletta went near for the first time in the 27th minute when off a Jean Borg cross from the left Nwoko headed downwards towards Fontanella but the Valletta forward was ruled in an offside position.
The Citizens were now increasing their pressure and eight minutes from the end of the first half Malano played towards Fontanella who found Nwoko but the latters shot hit side rigging.
But Valletta drew level in the 40th minute when Saleh played a ball in the area with Correa Duarte failing to control well and in came Enmy Pena Beltre who fired the ball into the net.
But the Champions joy was short lived as on 43 minutes Balzan went in front once again and in controversial circumstances. A Steve Pisani shot was deflected by Steve Borg into Alfred Effiong’s path but in an offside position who converted. The assistant flagged for an offside but the referee ruled over him and the goal was convalidated with Valletta protesting heavily.
On resumption Valletta were doing all the early running and in the 48th minute off a Fontanella corner a Malano header just missed the target. And in the 52ndminute Kaljevic found Fontanella whose shot from inside the area was blocked by Mintoff.
Balzan responded on 55 minutes through a Steve Pisani shot which was partially blocked by Bonello and from the rebound Ljubomirac blasted well over the bar.
A minute later Pena Beltre’s cross from the right found Fontanella who passed towards Kaljevic only for the latter to conclude wide when well positioned.
Valletta drew level in the 72nd minute when Mintoff failed to hold Gavrila’s free kick with Enmy Pena Beltre being on hand to blast the ball into the net.
Four minutes from the end Malano tried his luck from the edge of the area only for this shot to sail well over the bar.
In the last minutes the match could have gone either way. First off a Fontanella cross Nwoko’s central header was saved by Mintoff. And on the other end Bonello saved on Effiong.
The match went into extra time and in the 95th minute Balzan once again in the lead. A Steve Pisani free kick found Alfred Effiong who converted from beneath goal to grab a memorable hat trick.
Valletta’s reaction was an Nwoko shot on 99 minutes which was saved by Mintoff. And a minute later Effiong caused havoc in the opposing area his cross being met by Pena Beltre who nearly committed an own goal but Bonello saved on the line.
Balzan increased their lead on 104 minutes when off a Bozovic cross once again Alfred Effiong was there to head home past a helpless Bonello. There was still time for another chance which came from Valletta with Mintoff saving splendidly on Nwoko.
Five minutes from the end of extra time Correa Duarte brought down Pena Beltre in the area and from the penalty Mario Fontanella made no mistake.
And in dramatic style Valletta drew level. First they were reduced to ten men when Gavrila was sent off for a reaction on Cipriott. And two minutes from the end of extra time Zerafa played a long ball in the area and Rowen Muscat was first on the ball to head into the net.
Penalties had to now decide the winner of this year’s edition. Balzan scored all five through Kosoric, Sljivic, Ljubomirac, Majdevac and Effiong with Valletta scoring through Malano, Fontanella, Jean Borg and Muscat and Pulis the only Valletta player failing to convert.
The celebrations by Balzan were now in full swing.