Balzan hit five past Senglea Athletic

Balzan registered their second win in the BOV Premier League as they registered a most comfortable 5-0 win over Senglea Athletic. The latter therefore continue to chase their first points as they suffered a third consecutive defeat.

Senglea had no less than six changes from the team which lost to Mosta in their last outing as Matthew Farrugia, Daniel Buckle, Manuel Guillari, Zachary Cassar and Andre White were named in the starting line-up after starting the last game on the bench while Georgian forward Roman Tchanturia, who is on loan from Empoli, was handed his debut by Darren Anton Vella who was leading the team following the dismissal of Italian coach Bruno Russo. Noureddine Lachrah was unavailable as he was serving a suspension.

Balzan coach Marko Micovic named Sean Mintoff in goal while Nenad Slijvic and Alfred Effiong were preferred to Justin Grioli and Cadu. Ricardo Calixto Correa was missing once again as he served the second of a three-match ban.

Senglea were unlucky to hit the crossbar with a Ferdinando Salvati freekick from the left on the 11th minute. 

Balzan, however, took the lead on the 25th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Alfred Effiong was floored inside the area by Manuel Guillari and from the penalty spot, Andrija Majdevac made no mistake.

Two minutes from the end of the first half, Balzan doubled the score when off a cross by Ivan Bozovic, Milos Lepovic hit hard past Matthew Farrugia.

Andrija Majdevac made it 3-0 on the 61st minute as he flicked the ball home off a cross by Bozovic from the right. 

Three minutes later, Balzan added another thanks to Dale Camilleri who received an assist by Majdevac on the right, before slotting past Matthew Farrugia.

Two minutes from time, Alex da Paixao Alves scored a fifth goal when he converted a penalty after he was brought down inside the area by Tchanturia.

SENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Brandon Muscat (76′ Salvatore Moccia), Ferdinando Salvati, Manuel Guillari (66′ Kieran Xuereb), Braian Alexis Volpini, Imanol Gonzalez Benac, Zachary Cassar, Daniel Buckle, Karl Cutajar (80′ Marko Ivanovic), Roman Tchanturia, Andre White.
Subs not used: Philip Schranz, Dylan Micallef, Leighton Grech, Rayson Vella.
Asst. Coach: Darren Vella

BALZAN Sean Mintoff, Dale Camilleri, Nenad Slijvic, Alex da Paixao Alves, Steve Bezzina (67′ Justin Grioli), Michael Johnson (66′ Sean Cipriott), Alfred Effiong (66′ Siraj Arab Eddin), Ivan Bozovic, Elkin Serrano Valero, Andrija Majdevac, Milos Lepovic.
Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Lydon Micallef, Uros Ljubomirac, Neil Frendo.
Coach: Marko Micovic
Asst. Coach: Velibor Kopunovic

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Johnson, Sljivic, Muscat, Gonzalez, Grioli, Lepovic
BOV Player of the Match: Andrija Majdevac
Attendance: 512