Senglea    2
Balzan      2      

Senglea: M. Farrugia, S. Olberkis, L. Grech, M. Micallef, T. Marukawa (A. Spiteri 78), S. Cipriott (J. Tanti 70), W. Zamble, M. Todorovic, A. Do Nascimento, D. Xuereb (JW Teixeira 46), M. Dias 

Balzan: S. Mintoff, A. Loof, A. Kosoric, S. Pisani, S. Bezzina, M. Johnson, P. Fenech, U. Ljubomirac, S. Dimic (R. Faria 61), R. Correa, A. Majdevac (A. Effiong 78) 

Referee:  A. Mario Sant

Asst. refs: L. Portelli, P. Apap

4th official: A. Johnson

Scorers: A. Majdevac 11, 63, M. Micallef 77 pen., J. W. Teixeira 90,

Yellow cards: A. Kosoric 29, P. Fenech 45, S. Bezzina 48, J. Tanti 80, A. Do Nascimento 86,

BOV Player of the match: Andrija Majdevac

TMI Top 3: 1. A. Majdevac, 2. P. Fenech, 3. S. Cipriott

Senglea came back from 0-2 down against Balzan yesterday to score two late goals and earn as precious point.

Balzan had taken a 2-0 lead with goals from Andrija Majdevac, one of them a penalty in the first half. A penalty by Manolito Micallef  on 77 minutes put Senglea back in contention with substitute Jose Wilkson Teixeira scoring their equaliser deep into added time.

Senglea move onto the 12 points mark, and remain one point ahead of Balzan who now have 11.

In the first half, play was mostly balanced, but Balzan, perhaps, enjoyed slight superiority especially in midfield.

They also created the best scoring chances, though these were few and far between.

On their part, Senglea tried hard to get going, especially after falling behind to a Majdevac penalty.

But they were found wanting when reaching the Balzan area which was dominated by the central duo of Michael Johnson and Aleksandar Kosoric.

At the start of the second half Senglea pressed hard for an equaliser, but again, they lacked punch in their front line.

Balzan cleared all the gaps as goalie Mintoff was never really tested seriously during those opening minutes.

And their insistence in moving forward and never giving up, brought about a reward for the Yellow Reds as they also managed to score an equaliser before the end.

Balzan were awarded a penalty on 11 minutes when Ricardo Correa was upended in the area by Sigitas Olgerkis. From the spotkick, Andrija Majdevac made no mistake, sending goalie Matthew Farrugia the other side.

At the other end, on 19 minutes, a Marcelo Dias low cross created an anxious moment for the Balzan defence, but after a Balzan defender slipped, it was Paul Fenech who cleared the ball away.

Senglea had a chance on 27 minutes when Wilfried Zamble set Anderson Do Nascimento just outside the area, but the latter's effort went well over the bar.

In the 39^th minute, Balzan were close to adding a second goal. From a Steven Pisani freekick, an Augustine Loof header was cleared by Mirko Todorovic near the goal line onto the path of Stefan Dimic, whose effort from an angle, however, went wide.

In first half added time, Senglea almost levelled the score through Sean Cipriott who saw his fine freekick just missing the target with Balzan goalie Sean Mintoff beaten.

There were few actions worthy of note in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but in the 63^rd minute, Balzan doubled their lead through a splendid rising shot from Majdevac which beat goalie Farrugia all ends up.

In the 68^th minute, Balzan again went close when from a Pisani cornerkick, Majdevac had a header hitting the crossbar and then it was Do Nascimento who cleared to corner.

In the 72^nd minute, Senglea also threatened when it had to be Steve Bezzina to clear to corner in extremis before Leighton Grech could conclude. From the cornerkick, a Teixeira header hit the crossbar with the ball being eventually cleared.

Senglea were awarded a penalty on 77 minutes when Balzan goalie Sean Mintoff appeared to have fouled Wilfried Zamble during a cross. From the spotkick, Manolito Micallef made no mistake.

Senglea maintained their pressure on the Balzan goal during those final moments and they were rewarded for their efforts when two of their three substitutes were the protagonists of their equalising goal. From a Jan Tanti cross, it was Jose Wilkson Teixeira who headed into the net as the Balzan defence failed to clear.