Balzan revenge first round defeat to St. Andrews

Balzan made sure of retaining the top spot in the BOV Premier League as they defeated St. Andrews 3-1 at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday. A win which enabled them to revenge the shock 2-3 defeat they had suffered in the first round.

The Saints could have taken the lead on the 11th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Kemar Reid was brought down by Bruno Giglio de Oliveira but Joseph Farrugia’s effort from the penalty spot was neutralised by Sean Mintoff.

Just before half-time, Tristan Grant floored Alex da Paixao Alves inside the area and from the penalty spot, Bojan Kaljevic made no mistake

Four minutes in the second half, Balzan doubled the score when off a cross by Alex da Paixao Alves, Bojan Kaljevic’s header hit the upright but off the rebound, Alfred Effiong placed the ball at the back of the net.

Bojan Kaljevic sealed the issue with a third goal on the 76th minute when off a cross from the right by Alex da Paixao Alves, Bojan Kaljevic headed home from close range.

In added time, St. Andrews scored a consolation goal thanks to Misael Miranda Gomez whose rising shot from the right gave goalkeeper Sean Mintoff no chance.

BALZAN Sean Mintoff, Steve Bezzina, Alex da Paixao Alves, Elkin Serrano Valero, Uros Ljubomirac, Ryan Fenech (46′ Alfred Effiong), Bojan Kaljevic, Paul Fenech, Milos Lepovic (64′ Jamie Zerafa), Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Justin Grioli (74′ Jacob Borg).
Subs not used: Ivan Janjusevic, Clive Brincat, Samir Arab, Siraj Arab Eddin.
Coach: Marko Micovic

ST. ANDREWS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Liam Grech, Adrian Borg, Misael Miranda Gomez, Kemar Reid, Marcus Grima, Joseph Farrugia, Matthew Gauci, Kevaughn Atkinson (56′ Alexander Satariano), Jacob Walker (77′ Ricardo Martin), Tristan Grant.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Miguel D’Alessandro, Travis Blagrove, Aidan Friggieri, Chevaughn Mclaren.
Coach: Michael Woods

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Dusan Petrovic
Fourth Official: Eman Grech
Yellow Cards: Gauci, Grant
BOV Player of the Match: Alex da Paixao Alves

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Meanwhile at the Hibernians Stadium, Mosta found no difficulty in beating Lija Athletic 5-1. An important win for Johann Scicluna’s side as the Blues move further away from the danger zone.

The Blues had Brazilian striker Alex Wendel dos Santos making his debut and he marked his debut with a hat-trick. Also making his first appearance for Mosta was Jan Tanti who was included as a substitute. Lija, on the other hand, had Japanese midfielder Kei Hirose making his debut.

Alex Wendel dos Santos put the Blues ahead on the 36th minute thanks to a direct freekick but two minutes from the end of the first half, Raphael Kooh Sohna levelled matters with a first-time effort when served by a Predrag Babic throw-in.

Eighteen minutes in the second half, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira restored the lead for Mosta, heading the ball home off a cross by substitute Jan Tanti.

Mosta were then awarded a penalty after Ousmane Sidibe brought Alex Wendel dos Santos down inside the area on the 76th minute and the Brazilian striker converted from the penalty spot.

The Blues extended the lead ten minutes from time after they were awarded another penalty after Jan Tanti was fouled inside the area by Babic with Wendel converting from the penalty spot.

Leozinho scored a fifth goal for Mosta two minutes later following a perfect assist by Wendell.

LIJA Luke Bonnici, Predrag Babic, Patrick Borg (46′ Leejoe Schembri), Aaron Sammut, Leon Muscat, McAllister Clinch (73′ Nigel Spiteri), Raphael Alain Kooh Sona, Aiden Galea (86′ Jayden Aquilina), Kei Hirose, Erjon Beu, Ousmane Sidibe.
Coach: Joseph Galea

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira (82′ Neil Frendo 82), Alex Wendel Dos Santos, Edison David Bilbao Zarate (82′ Kyle Frendo), Kurt Magro, Davide Mansi, Tyron Farrugia, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, David Ifeanyi Nworah (61′ Jan Tanti), Ivan Maric, Dexter Xuereb.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

Referee: Etienne Mangion
Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Theodore Zammit
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia
Yellow Cards: Nworah, Sidibe, Babic
Red Cards: 73′ Ousmane Sidibe
BOV Player of the Match: Alex Wendel Dos Santos (M)