Balzan return to winning ways

After losing to Senglea and a draw with Mosta, Balzan returned to winning ways as they defeated Pietà Hotspurs 3-0 at the National Stadium on Sunday.

This first win since the appointment of Jacques Scerri as their new coach puts Balzan back on track in the battle for a place in the UEFA Europa League this summer. The Hotspurs, on the other hand, suffer an eighth consecutive defeat to remain anchored at the bottom of the table on ten points together with Qormi.

Balzan took the lead on 34 minutes when Pietà defender Stefan Radovanovic chested the ball down but failed to control it just outside the area and Andrija Majdevac found no difficulty in hitting low past Nicky Vella.

On the 61st minute, Balzan doubled the score when off a cross from the right by Ljubomirac, Milos Lepovic’s effort was blocked by Vella but off the rebound, Ricardo Calixto Correa hit home.

Balzan sealed the issue with a third goal thirteen minutes from time when substitute Steve Pisani served another substitute, Alfred Effiong, whose diagonal shot from the right gave the Pietà goalkeeper no chance. 

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Travis Bartolo (79’ Samuel Okoh), Neil Pace Cocks (61’ Gegi Kekua), Dylan Agius, Jan Busuttil, Nicholas Pisani, Gabriel Mensah (80’ James Scicluna), Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa, Stefan Radovanovic, Uchenna Calistus Umeh, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo.
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Kyle Mercieca, Paul Chimezie, Sheldon Pisani.
Coach: Ramon Zammit
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

BALZAN Sean Mintoff, Nenad Sljivic, Steve Pisani, Steve Bezzina, Paul Fenech, Uros Ljubomirac (79’ Justin Grioli), Ivan Bozovic, Elkin Serrano Valero, Ricardo Calixto Correa, Andrija Majdevac (70’ Alfred Effiong), Milos Lepovic (67’ Sean Cipriott).
Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Dale Camilleri, Lydon Micallef, Michael Johnson.
Coach: Jacques Scerri
Asst. Coach: Velibor Kopunovic

Referee: Alex Johnson
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Cards: Ljubomirac, Mensah
BOV Player of the Match: Ricardo Calixto Correa

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