Balzan defeated Melita 4-0 to move to just five points behind sixth-placed Sliema Wanderers.
The team led by Ivan Zammit was clearly the better side right from the start, scoring two in each half to register a second consecutive defeat. For Melita, this was the first defeat after three positive results.
Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar
Melita lacked Julian Galea, Michael Valenzia and Nigel Rizzo. Balzan, on the other hand, could not count on Rennie Forace.
After a quiet start, Balzan managed to take the lead on the 15th minute when off a cross by Elton Alexandre da Silva, Renato Conceicao managed to beat goalkeeper Gabilondo Garcia with a shot from the right.
On the half-hour, Elton da Silva caught Gabilondo Garcia out of place but his lob ended just wide.
However three minutes later, Elton da Silva sent Pedro dos Santos Calcado through and the latter controlled the ball inside the area before beating the Melita goalkeeper with a shot half-height.
Eleven minutes in the second half, Luke Micallef went close with a shot from the right which just missed the target. Then on the 70th minute, George Gribbon tried his luck following a cross by Matthew Borg.
The Amateurs were reduced to ten men on 73 minutes after substitute Luke Sammut was sent off following a rough tackle on Christian Caruana.
Balzan took full advantage increasing the lead on the 75th when a Renato Conceicao effort hit the woodwork and Pedro dos Santos Calcado slammed the ball home off the rebound.
Six minutes from time, Balzan sealed the issue with a fourth goal thanks to an angled shot by Elton Alexandre da Silva which beat Gabilondo Garcia.
Pedro dos Santos Calcado was voted BOV Player of the Match.
MELITA Guillermo Gabilondo Garcia, Matthew Borg, Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho, Ivan Tufegdzic (46’ Jorge Veloso Lourido), George Gribbon, Michael Martin, Jean Pierre Attard (46’ Karl Vella Petroni), Andrew Caruana Scicluna, Tobias Terpougoff (69’ Luke Sammut), Luke Micallef, Daniel Cabanillas Ayllon.
Subs not used: Andrew Abela, Marc Attard, Luke Bianco, Rudi Alhinho.
Coach: Patxi Salinas
Asst. Coach: Alejandro Martinez Lopez
BALZAN Daniel Miguelez Martinez, Dylan Grima (88’ Malcolm Licari), Yessous Camilleri, Stefan Giglio, Jonathan Francica, Jamie Pace, Aaron Agius (78’ Jacob Dominico Borg), Renato Garcia Conceicao, Christian Caruana (84’ Bjorn Bondin), Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Elton Alexandre da Silva.
Subs not used: Fredrick Tabone, Matthew Mendy, Kevin Camilleri, Juan Corbalan.
Coach: Joe Borg
Team Manager: Ivan Zammit
Referee: Andre Arciola
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Mitchell Scerri
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: Sierra Camacho, Calcado, Vella Petroni, Camilleri, Agius
Red Cards: 73′ Luke Sammut
Scorers: 15’ Renato Conceicao, 33’ Pedro dos Santos Calcado, 75’ Pedro dos Santos Calcado, 84’ Elton Alexandre da Silva
Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar
Meanwhile Tarxien Rainbows bounced back from the heavy defeat to Birkirkara as they defeated Mosta 3-1 to move an important step towards securing a place in the Championship Pool. A win which puts the Rainbows on level points with Mosta in fourth place.
This was a disappointing result for the Blues as they were aiming to move temporarily on top the BOV Premier League table.
Mosta lacked Steve Onyii Chiemeka, Steve Bezzina, Firas Aboulezz and Obinna Obiefule apart from Daniel Bogdanovic who was released but Tyrone Farrugia was making his debut after joining the club. On the other hand, making his debut for the Rainbows was Branislav Timotic who joined the club from Sliema.
Danail Mitev was unlucky to hit the crossbar on the 12th minute and off the rebound, David Maia dos Santos was about to conclude but Steve Bonnici cleared the ball into safety.
A minute later, the Rainbows took the lead when off a pass by Andrezinho for Daniel Mariano Bueno on the right, the latter hit low past goalkeeper Justin Haber.
One minute in the second half, Mosta equalised when off a Danail Mitev corner, Ferdinando Apap headed the ball home past goalkeeper Nicky Vella.
Justin Grioli was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a cross-shot from the right on 61 minutes.
However on 68 minutes, the Rainbows regained the lead when Andrezinho sent Roderick Bajada through and the latter hit home past goalkeeper Justin Haber.
Justin Haber performed a fine save on a great Andrezinho effort when served by Daniel Mariano Bueno on 83 minutes.
A minute later, Daniel Mariano Bueno scored the third goal for Tarxien when off a pass by Mark Tanti, the Brazilian striker’s conclusion was blocked by Haber but the ball ended at the back of the net off the rebound.
Daniel Mariano Bueno was voted BOV Player of the Match.
MOSTA Justin Haber, Ferdinando Apap, Tyrone Farrugia, Bryan Agius, Mano Micallef, Ryan Grech (57’ Adrian Farrugia), Jonathan Bajada, Danail Mitev, Alex Cini (13’ Giancarlo Sammut), Carlos Campagnoli (86′ Steve Schembri), David Maia dos Santos.
Subs not used: Noel Attard, John Paul Grima, Adrian Caruana, Chris Saliba.
Coach: Steve D’Amato
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella
TARXIEN Nicky Vella, Justin Grioli (90+1′ Carlo Mamo), Roderick Bajada, Leandro da Silva Almeida, Andre de Souza Esposito, Ryan Sammut, Mark Tanti (86′ David Fenech), Daniel Mariano Bueno (90+1′ Marco Tulio Lopes Silva), Branislav Timotic, Orosco Anonam, Steven Bonnici.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Steven Sadowski, Manuel Caruana, Andrew Agius.
Coach: Clive Mizzi
Asst. Coach: Steven Vella
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Eman Grech
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: Campagnoli, Grioli, Maia dos Santos
Scorers: 13’ Daniel Mariano Bueno; 46’ Ferdinando Apap; 68′ Roderick Bajada; 84′ Daniel Mariano Bueno
Attendance: 340