Valletta, Balzan share spoils in goalless draw

Leaders Balzan maintain a three-point lead over Valletta as the two teams shared the spoils in a goalless draw in a top-of-the-table clash at the National Stadium on Sunday.

As expected, the Citizens showed greater determination in their bid to claim the three points and join Balzan on top but Balzan managed to keep them at bay to maintain their lead on top the BOV Premier League table.

Santiago Malano went close to putting the Citizens ahead on the 24th minute with a shot from outside the area.

Valletta threatened once again with Enmy Pena Beltre’s acrobatic shot on the hour and eleven minutes from time, Miguel Angel Alba’s direct freekick ended just wide. Balzan replied with an Elkin Serrano header on the 84th ending just wide.

Four minutes in added time, Balzan had Milos Lepovic sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a late tackle.

But the game was not over yet as Uros Ljubomirac was also sent off on the 98th after receiving a second yellow card which followed an argument between a number of players.

Photo: Copyright © Andrew Grima

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VALLETTA Henry Bonello, Ryan Camilleri, Juan Cruz Gill, Santiago Malano, Matteo Piciollo (65′ Kyrian Nwoko), Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Joseph Zerafa, Raed Ibrahim Saleh, Rowen Muscat, Miguel Angel Alba (81′ Michael Mifsud), Albert Prosa.
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Shaun Dimech, Russell Fenech, Jean Borg, Nicholas Pulis.
Coach: Danilo Doncic

BALZAN Sean Mintoff, Steve Bezzina, Michael Johnson, Elkin Serrano Valero, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic (78′ Justin Grioli), Bojan Kaljevic, Paul Fenech, Milos Lepovic, Alex da Paixao Alves (89′ Ryan Fenech), Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes (67′ Alfred Effiong).
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Clive Brincat, Jacob Borg, Siraj Arab Eddin.
Coach: Marko Micovic

Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Luke Portelli
Additional Assistant Referees: Matthew De Gabriele Eman Grech
Fourth Official: Dusan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: Bozovic, Alba, Bezzina, Lepovic, Ljubomirac, Mintoff, Kaljevic, Zerafa
Red Cards: 90+4′ Milos Lepovic, 90+8′ Uros Ljubomirac
BOV Player of the Match: Santiago Malano
Attendance: 2,023