Balzan join Valletta on top, Gzira secure historic UEFA Europa League spot

Balzan joined Valletta on top the BOV Premier League with one game to go as they defeated Senglea Athletic 2-1 at the National Stadium.

Balzan took the lead just before half time when off a freekick by Ivan Bozovic from the right, Siraj Arab Eddin headed home past goalkeeper Jurgen Borg.

Against the run of play, Senglea equalised on the 62nd minute. Randall Vella served Gonzalo Nicolas Virano on the right and the latter’s fine rising shot gave Janjusevic no chance.

However on the 75th minute, Balzan regained the lead when off a Ryan Fenech freekick, Michael Johnson headed the ball into the direction of substitute Bojan Kaljevic who flicked the ball past the Senglea goalkeeper.

Photos: Copyright © Andrew Grima

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BALZAN Ivan Janjusevic, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic (77’ Justin Grioli), Alex da Paixao Alves, Elkin Serrano Valero, Paul Fenech (59’ Ryan Fenech), Siraj Arab (64’ Bojan Kaljevic), Steve Bezzina, Alfred Effiong, Michael Johnson, Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes.
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Clive Brincat, Jamie Zerafa, Jacob Borg.
Coach: Marko Micovic

SENGLEA Jurgen Borg (90’ Roderick Debattista), Jonathan Bondin, Steve Bonnici, Gonzalo Julian Leyton, Randall Vella, Hubert Vella, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano, Ivan Edgardo Paz, Augusto Rene Caseres (88’ Terence Vella), Gregori Braga, Peter Paul Sammut.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Ian Azzopardi, Jurgen Farrugia, Josuel Spiteri, Jurgen Suda.
Coach: Paolo Favaretto

Referee: Clayton Pisani
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Additional Assistant Referees: Stefan Pace, Ishmael Barbara
Fourth Official: Edward Spiteri
Yellow Cards: R. Vella, Cadu, G. Braga, I. Paz, I. Bozovic
BOV Player of the Match: Cadu
Attendance at the National Stadium: 4,269

Meanwhile at the Hibernians Stadium, Gzira United secured a historic place in the UEFA Europa League this summer by placing third thanks to a 2-1 win over Sliema Wanderers.

Kurt Shaw put Sliema ahead on the half hour as he headed the ball home off a Matias Muchardi freekick from the left.

Four minutes later, Gzira equalised. A Zack Scerri effort was partially saved by Antonio Cotticelli and off the rebound, Amadou Samb’s attempt was blocked but Emmanuel Ndubuisi Okoye placed the ball at the back of the net.

Three minutes in the second half, the Maroons forged ahead when off an Andrew Cohen corner, Haruna Garba headed home.

GZIRA Anthony Curmi, Roderick Briffa, Sacha Borg, Prince Mambouana, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Zack Scerri, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Haruna Garba (87′ Nikolai Muscat), Andrew Cohen, Amadou Samb (77′ Juan Carlos Corbalan), Emmanuel Ndubuisi Okoye.
Subs not used: Justin Haber, Antonio Orlando de Queiroz Machedo Neto, Luca Brincat, Karl Pulo.
Coach: Darren Abdilla

SLIEMA Antonio Cotticelli, Michele Sansone (85′ Omar Elouni), Stefano Bianciardi, Frank Temile, Edmond Agius (85′ Peter Xuereb), Kurt Shaw, Jefferson de Assis, Ryan Spiteri (66′ Kilian Amehi), John Mintoff, Matias Muchardi, Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Mark Scerri, Lee Pisani.
Coach: John Buttigieg

Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Dusan Petrovic
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Okoye, Assis, Agius, Muchardi, Samb, Garba, Zarate, Briffa
BOV Player of the Match: Haruna Garba