Jean Paul Farrugia scores twice as Sliema defeat Balzan 3-1

Sliema Wanderers re-joined Hibernians on top the BOV Premier League table as they defeated Balzan 3-1 at the Centenary Stadium on Sunday.

For the Wanderers, this was the fourth win in five matches while for Balzan, have now gone three matches without a win after earning just two points in two draws in the previous two matches.

Sliema took the lead on the 16th minute when off a cross from the right by Myles Beerman, Juri Cisotti’s effort was deflected by a defender and Alessandro Milesi hit home from close range.

The Wanderers doubled the score on the 35th when they were awarded a penalty after Jean Paul Farrugia was brought down inside the area and from the penalty spot, Farrugia made no mistake.

Seven minutes in the second half, Balzan pulled one back thanks to Uros Ljubomirac who managed to lob the ball over goalkeeper Jake Galea.

However a minute later, Sliema restored the two-goal lead, once again, thanks to Jean Paul Farrugia who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes from close range after that shots by Cisotti and Milesi were blocked by the Balzan goalkeeper following a cross by Satariano from the right.

SLIEMA Jake Galea, Alex Satariano (81′ John Mintoff), Kurt Shaw, Alessandro Milesi (66′ Denilson Pereira Neves), Juri Cisotti (66′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro), Gabriel Aquilina, Oscar Linton, Jean Paul Farrugia, Myles Beerman, Dejan Vukovic, Sylvano Comvalius (28′ Ruslan Kisil).
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Jake Engerer, Sebastian Grech.
Coach: Andrea Pisanu
Asst. Coach: Noel Turner

BALZAN Vukasin Cranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab (66′ Sean Cipriott), Paul Fenech (84′ Neil Frendo), Eric Lemond McWoods, Steve Pisani (84′ Gary Camilleri), Michael Johnson (84′ Marcus Grima), Uros Ljubomirac, Suleiman Jalu, Weverton Gomes Souza (46′ Alfred Effiong), Moussa Kamara.
Subs not used: Andy Catania Gilson, Steven Bezzina.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Joseph Grech

Referee: Ishamel Barbara
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, James Muscat
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius
Yellow Cards: Pisani, Shaw, Effiong, Kamara
BOV Player of the Match: Jean Paul Farrugia