Two quickfire goals stun Sliema as Balzan turn defeat into comfortable win

Balzan came back from a goal down to beat Sliema Wanderers 5-1 in a match from the BOV Premier League at the National Stadium on Sunday.

A win which boosts Balzan’s hopes of avoiding relegation as they now join Zejtun Corinthians on the 23-point mark in joint-twelfth place.

Sliema, on the other hand, stay four points behind fourth-placed Birkirkara.

Ironically, the Wanderers managed to take the lead on the 21st minute when Alex Satariano took advantage of a misunderstanding between defender Augustine Loof and goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes and rounded the goalkeeper, placing the ball at the back of the net.

However, on the 33rd minute, Balzan equalised when Michael Johnson headed the ball in the direction of Aleksa Andrejic, who although surrounded by two defenders, slotted the ball past Jake Galea.

Hardly forty seconds later, Balzan gained the lead. Moussa Sanoh intercepted the ball just after the match resumed and Milan Djuric exchanged the ball with Andrejic and served Uros Ljubomirac on the right who hit hit home past Galea.

Just before the end of the first half, Balzan made it 3-1 courtesy of Moussa Sanoh who pounced on a through pass, dribbled two defenders and hit low past Galea.

On the 66th minute, Milan Djuric concluded a good run on the right flank with an assist for Stefan Dimic who slotted the ball past the Sliema goalkeeper.

One minute from time, Uros Ljubomirac received a through pass on the right and advanced all alone and rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball at the back of the net with an angled shot.

BALZAN Vukasin Vranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab, Milan Djuric, Paul Fenech (85′ Adam Bradshaw), Michael Johnson (70′ Steve Bezzina), Uros Ljubomirac, Stefan Dimic (70′ Alfred Effiong), Moussa Sanoh (61′ Marcus Grima), Aleksa Andrejic, Sean Cipriott (84′ Gary Camilleri).
Coach: Mark Miller

SLIEMA Jake Galea, Alex Satariano (90′ Jean Borg), Kurt Shaw, John Mintoff, Juri Cisotti (90′ Jake Engerer), Denilson Pereira (46′ Riki Kakinuma), Edmond Agius, Danny Holla, Gabriel Aquilina (59′ Michele Sansone), Myles Beerman (70′ Nuno Jorge Malheiro Barbosa), Dejan Vukovic.
Coach: Andrea Pisanu

Referee: Alex Johnson
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, James Muscat
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow cards Dimic, Mintoff, Galea, Agius
BOV Player of the Match Uros Ljubomirac