Balzan move back in fourth place

Balzan maintained the challenge for a place in Europe this summer as they moved back in fourth place thanks to a 3-0 win over Pietà Hotspurs.

For the Hotspurs, this was the fourth consecutive defeat and they remain joint-second from bottom on 12 points, together with Zebbug, one ahead of Tarxien.

Balzan managed to take the lead on the 23rd minute through Gianmarco Piccioni whose freekick beat goalkeeper David Cassar.

Substitute Lydon Micallef doubled the score on 77 minutes when he received an assist by Bojan Kaljevic and hit past the Pietà goalkeeper.

One minute from time, Bojan Kaljevic sealed the issue with the third goal as he advanced into the area before slotting the ball past Cassar.

PIETÀ David Cassar, Cain Attard, Christian Grech, Leonardo Fortunato dos Santos (46′ Karl Micallef), Jurgen Pisani, Orosco Anonam, Joao Gabriel da Silva (64′ Charles Newuche Nnaemeka, Rafael Rodrigues da Silva, Luke Micallef (64′ Kyle Cesare), Ricardo Costa, Claudio Daniel Frances.
Subs not used: Dylan Galea, Dylan Agius, Neil Pace Cocks, Ayrton Mizzi.
Coach: Noel Coleiro

BALZAN Christian Cassar, Justin Grioli, Dylan Grima (71′ Lydon Micallef), Elkin Serrano Valero, Terence Agius (63′ Luke Sciberras), Steve Bezzina, Bojan Kaljevic, Osa Ice-Cream Guobadia (85′ Mark Spiteri), Clive Brincat, Samir Arab, Gianmarco Piccioni.
Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Sean Cipriott, Ryan Darmanin, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, David Castillo
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Anonam, Luke Micallef, Gabriel, Lydon Micallef
Scorers: 23′ Gianmarco Piccioni, 77′ Lydon Micallef, 89′ Bojan Kaljevic
BOV Player of the Match: Gianmarco Piccioni