Narrow win gives Balzan sole leadership

For the second week in succession, Bojan Kaljevic scored the all-important goal for Balzan as they registered another narrow win, this time against Senglea Athletic at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday, to go top of the BOV Premier League table. Balzan move three points ahead of Gzira United and Valletta but the Citizens have a game in hand.

This was the fifth consecutive win for Balzan as they extend their unbeaten run to ten matches while for Senglea, this was the sixth defeat in seven matches.

Balzan managed to break the deadlock one minute in added time, before the end of the first half, when off a cross by Cadu from the right, goalkeeper Giulio Cetrangolo failed to anticipate Bojan Kaljevic who headed the ball home.

Eight minutes in the second half, Alex da Paixao Alves had a close-range effort blocked by Cetrangolo onto the crossbar before the ball was cleared into safety.

Photo: Copyright © Jonathan Bugeja

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SENGLEA Giulio Cetrangolo, Jonathan Bondin, Randall Vella, Gonzalo Julian Leyton, Sergio Uyi, Matias Garcia, Ivan Edgardo Paz, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano, Ryan Dalli, Nicola Palmieri, Terence Vella (82’ Peter Paul Sammut).
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Jurgen Farrugia, Steve Bonnici, Ian Azzopardi, Mattia Del Negro, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Paolo Favaretto

BALZAN Ivan Janjusevic, Steve Bezzina, Michael Johnson, Elkin Serrano Valero, Uros Ljubomirac, Milos Lepovic, Bojan Kaljevic (90+1’ Justin Grioli), Paul Fenech, Alex da Paixao Alves (67’ Alfred Effiong), Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes (87’ Jamie Zerafa), Samir Arab.
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Clive Brincat, Jacob Borg, Ryan Fenech.
Coach: Marko Micovic

Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Serrano, R. Vella
BOV Player of the Match: Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes

Meanwhile Oliver Spiteri celebrated his debut as Naxxar Lions coach as they registered a 2-0 win in the derby against Mosta at the Hibernians Stadium.

A win which puts Naxxar on the 9-point mark, on level points with Senglea, two ahead of St. Andrews and Tarxien. Mosta, on the other hand, remain ninth on fourteen points.

Scott James Fenwick put the Lions on the 67th minute as he placed the ball at the back of the net from close range after the Mosta goalkeeper blocked Oussenyou Ndoye’s header.

Duane Bonnici sealed the issue with a second goal three minutes in added time.

Mosta were reduced to ten men six minutes from time as Jonas Rodriguez Ekani received a second yellow card.

NAXXAR Omar Borg, Scott James Fenwick (79′ Duane Bonnici), Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Daren Falzon (86′ Mark Fenech), Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Daniel Mateo Bustos (90+2′ Jurgen Debono), Angus Buhagiar, Oussenyou Elhadji Ndoye, Adrian Cascaval, Yuri de Jesus Messias.
Subs not used: Andre Fenech, Tristan Nappa Licari, Marco Botta, Joel Ellul.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira, Zachary Brincat, Thomas Veronese, Kurt Magro, Davide Mansi, Tyrone Farrugia, David Ifeanyi Nworah (86′ Calvin Camilleri, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Ivan Maric, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani.
Subs not used: Andy Attard, David Fenech, Kyle Frendo, Neil Frendo, Jurgen Grech, Jeanpaul Formosa.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius
Yellow Cards: Falzon, Ekani, Maric, Magro, Veronese, Bonnici
Red Cards: 84′ Jonas Rodriguez Ekani