Balzan returned to winning ways as they survived an early scare to come back from one goal down and beat Mosta 7-1 at the National Stadium on Friday. A win which puts Oliver Spiteri’s side temporarily on top the BOV Premier League table.

For Mosta, it was a huge disappointment after earning three points earlier in the day after the MFA Protests Board awarded them a 3-0 win for their last outing against Pembroke Athleta – a game which they had lost 0-5.

With Njongo Priso and Pedrinho apart from Tyrone Farrugia all ruled out injured, Mosta coach Zsolt Hornyak made four changes as Chinatu Onwudinjo and Lucky Oseghale were back along with Zachary Brincat and Josue Ahoure. These replaced Jonas Rodrigues Ekani, Jurgen Grech, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Pedrinho. Balzan, on the other hand, had Ivan Janjusevic, Anderson de Barros, Milos Lepovic and Dylan Grima replacing Christian Cassar, Bruno Oliveira, Samir Arab and the suspended Paul Fenech.

The Blues managed to take the lead on the 21st minute thanks to Lucky Victor Oseghale whose curling shot gave goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic no chance.

Four minutes later, Mosta almost made it 2-0 when David Fenech’s powerful drive hit the crossbar with the ball bouncing on the goal line before being cleared into safety.

Balzan levelled matters on the 33rd minute thanks to Alfred Effiong header off a corner from the right by Ryan Fenech.

Ten minutes later, Bojan Kaljevic made it 2-1 for Balzan with a powerful shot from the edge of the area when served by Alan da Silva Souza.

Nine minutes in the second half, Balzan increased the lead further thanks to Matteo Piciollo who received a through pass and beat Vella with a well-placed shot from the left.

Bojan Kaljevic made it 4-1 on the 62nd minute after receiving a through pass by Clive Brincat and advancing into the area before slotting past the Mosta goalkeeper.

Balzan scored a fifth goal on the 73rd minute thanks to Alan da Silva Souza who received an assist on the right and with a powerful shot managed to beat Andreas Vella.

Three minutes later, substitute Lydon Micallef added another as his conclusion was not held by the Mosta custodian when served by Piciollo from the left.

Lydon Micallef made it 7-1 two minutes from time when he took advantage of an erratic back pass by a defender and blocked the goalkeeper’s clearance with the ball ending at the back of the net.

BALZAN Ivan Janjusevic, Clive Brincat, Dylan Grima, Bojan Kaljevic, Anderson Francisco de Barros, Ryan Fenech (76′ Terence Agius), Alan da Souza Silva, Matteo Piciollo, Elkin Serrano Valero, Milos Lepovic (66′ Steve Bezzina), Alfred Effiong (71′ Lydon Micallef).
Subs not used: Christian Cassar,, Justin Grioli, Sean Cipriott, Samir Arab.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Kurt Magro, Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo, Heron Guilhermino Miranda (63′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Adrian Caruana, Josue Ahoure (73′ Jurgen Grech), Cesar Romero (85′ Neil Frendo), Lucky Victor Oseghale, Zachary Brincat, David Fenech.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Kyle Frendo,, Nicholas Farrugia, Kemar Reid.
Coach: Zsolt Hornyak

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Eman Grech
Yellow Cards: Lepovic, R. Fenech, Mifsud Triganza
Scorers 21′ Victor Lucky Oseghale, 33′ Alfred Effiong, 43′ Bojan Kaljevic, 54′ Matteo Piciollo, 62′ Bojan Kaljevic, 73′ Alan da Silva Souza, 76′ Lydon Micallef, 88′ Lydon Micallef
BOV Player of the Match: Bojan Kaljevic