Balzan beat Marsaxlokk after second half comeback

MARSAXLOKK 1

Ferraris 22

BALZAN 2

Satariano 52; Torres 63

MARSAXLOKK J. Gobbi-4, C. Uzeh-4,  C. Borg-6 (65 A. Attard), W. Serrano-4, E. Vella-5.5 (71 A. Effiong), A. Ferraris-6, L. Aguirre-6, F. Moracci-6, Wellington-5 (65 D. Agius), D. Vukanic-5.5, T. Fonesca-5.

BALZAN J. Debono-5 I. Bozovic-6 (88 D. Torres), M. Grima-5, P. Fenech-5, A. Torres-6.5, B, Hili-6.5 (88 S. Arab), U. Ljubomirac-6, M. Zlatkovic-6, A. Satariano-7 (77 B. Kalejvic), M. Raso-6, A. Andrejic-6.5 ( 64 M. da Sousa).

Referee Stefan Pace.

Yellow card Ljubomirac, Torres, Ferraris, Hili, Edafe, Raso.

BOV player of the match Alexander Satariano (Balzan).

José Maria Gobbi had a night to forget as Balzan came from behind to clinch their third win in four games.

The Marsaxlokk goalkeeper gifted Balzan their equaliser to leave Pablo Doffo’s side reflecting on yet another uncertain defensive display.

Malta striker Alexander Satariano helped Balzan return to winning ways in their best start to the Premier League in years with nine points from the opening four games.

He was rewarded for his endeavour with his first goal for the club since joining from Frosinone. Later on, he was involved in a lovely triangulation which led to Torres’ fourth goal of the season.

Balzan had started off promisingly, quickly putting Marsaxlokk on the back foot before the southseasiders found their feet.

In the 5th minute, Angel Yesid Torres went close for Balzan when his inswinger eluded the Marsaxlokk defence with the ball bouncing on the crossbar.

After 19 minutes, Leandro Aguirre whipped in a teasing cross that pinged around the penalty box before Fabian Moracci’s final shot was saved by Jonathan Debono.

The game needed a piece of brilliance to spark it into life and Adrian Santiago Ferraris obliged to give Marsaxlokk the lead.

And it came in stunning style when he launched an unstoppable free-kick into the top left-hand corner of the Balzan goal.

After a dull start to the second half, Balzan’s equaliser arrived in the most atrocious circumstances.

Alexander Satariano had already shown his endeavour in attack but on 52 minutes, he chased down Christopher Uzeh Edafe’s backpass to open his Balzan account in the easiest fashion possible once keeper José Maria Gobbi lost the ball a few metres from the goal.

Any hopes Gobbi had of regaining his composure disappeared on 63 minutes when he let the ball slip under his body after Aleksa Andrejic squared it for Torres who hit a low drive goalwards.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Debono ensured victory for Balzan in the dying minutes, blocking a point-blank header by Moracci.