Balzan return to winning ways against Sirens

BALZAN           2         

Andrejic 28’, Ljubomirac 35’

SIRENS             1         

Effiong 90+5’

BALZAN V. Vranes-6, M. Djuric-6 (90+3’ A. Bradshaw), P. Fenech-6, A. Daniels-5.5 (62’ B. Kaljevic), M. Johnson, U. Ljuboirac-7 (90+3’ S. Jalu), M. Zlatkovic-6, G. Camilleri-6, M. Mijic-6, A. Andrejic-6.5 (78’ N. Frendo), S. Cipriott-6.

SIRENS J. Debono-6.5, H. Motta-6, C. Borg-6 (74’ A. Effiong), B. Gavrila-6 (60’ D. Jackson), D. Albanese-6.5, A. Borg-6, C. Zammit Lonardelli, A. Cini, F. Avoce (38’ M. Lomis-6), V. Vieira-6, R. Neto-6.

Referee Fyodor Zammit

Yellow Cards M. Johnson, M. Zlatkovic, D. Albanese, C. Zammit Lonardelli

BOV Player of the Match Uros Ljubomirac

After suffering five successive defeats, Balzan returned to winning ways as two goals in the first half handed them a 2-1 win over Sirens on Sunday.

This was a win that revives hopes of securing a top-six finish as they now lie just four points behind sixth-placed Sirens. For the St. Paul’s Bay side, this was a highly disappointing result as they were aiming for a positive score in order to edge closer to making it to the top six. With two matches to play for each team, they lie just one point ahead of Gudja and two ahead of Valletta.

Balzan coach Paul Zammit made three changes from their last outing as Alvin Daniels, Gary Camilleri and Aleksa Andrejic replaced Augustine Loof, Marcus Grima, and Bojan Kaljevic. Winston Muscat, on the other hand, restored Diego Albanese and Vitor Vieira in the starting line-up in lieu of Jacob Walker and Marios Lomis.

Sirens had the first attempt at goal with a Vitor Vieira effort from the edge of the area ending just wide on seven minutes and then a Bogdan Gavrila freekick was neutralised by Vranes on 23 minutes.

Five minutes later, Balzan took the lead. Uros Ljubomirac served Aleksa Andrejic whose diagonal shot from the right beat goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.

Sirens replied with another Gavrila freekick on 34 minutes but Vranes parried his attempt.

Balzan doubled the score a minute later. Aleksa Andrejic received an assist on the right, inside the area, and served the unmarked Uros Ljubomirac who hit hard past goalkeeper Debono.

On the restart, Sirens went out in search of a goal that would put them back in contention and Henrique Marcelino Motta went close with a header on 52 minutes following a freekick by Gavrila. 

Six minutes later, Albanese served Vieira from the left and the latter’s effort from the edge of the area was blocked by Vranes. Sirens maintained the pressure and an overhead kick by Vieira on 66 minutes just missed the target.  Balzan replied with a Bojan Kaljevic header off a freekick by Milos Mijic which was saved by Debono.

Five minutes in added time, Sirens pulled one back courtesy of former Balzan forward Alfred Effiong whose low drive from outside the area beat Vukasin Vranes.