Balzan’s first-half flurry sinks hapless Floriana

BALZAN             3           

Andrejic 1; Kaljevic 23

Torres 39

FLORIANA         1           

Trillo 58

BALZAN

J. Debono-6, I. Bozovic-6, S. Arab-6, M. Grima-6 (62’ D. Nginga), P. Fenech-6, A. Torres-6 (90’ B. Hili), N. Zerjal-6, N. Braunovic-6, M. Souza-6.5 (73’ B. Mladenovic), A. Andrejic-7, B. Kaljevic-6.5 (62 A. Satariano).

FLORIANA

D. Formosa-5.5, A. Magri Overend-6, O. El Hasni-5.5, K. Reid-5.5, U. Arias-6, M. Garcia-6, L. De Grazia-5.5 (46 O. Spiteri), E. Callegari-5.5, J. Busuttil-6, S. Osestad-5.5 (46’ M. Veselji), A. Garzia-5.5 (55 L. Trillo).

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Arias, Veselji, Torres, Fenech.

Red card: 86’ E. Callegari (F) 86.

BOV Player of the Match: Aleksa Andrejic (Balzan).

Balzan extended their positive run as an early goal paved the way for a 3-1 win over Floriana.

This was a seventh win in eight matches for Oliver Spiteri’s side who maintain the charge for a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League this summer as they re-join Hibernians in fourth place, just a point behind Birkirkara and three behind second-placed Gżira United.

Floriana, on the other hand, are now ninth as they have now gone six matches without a win.

The Greens had no less than five changes from the team which drew with Gżira United with Duncan Formosa starting in goal while Aleandro Garzia, Matias Garcia, Lorenzo De Grazia and Jan Busuttil all returned to the starting line-up.

 Balzan, on the other hand, had Alex Satariano and Momcilo Raso making way for Ivan Bozovic and Bojan Kaljevic.

It took Balzan just 18 seconds to take the lead. Aleksa Andrejic received an assist on the left and from a distance of around 25 metres, beat goalkeeper Duncan Formosa with a perfect lob.

On 23 minutes, Balzan doubled the score. Andrejic delivered a cross from the left and Bojan Kaljevic headed the ball home.

Floriana replied with a freekick by Ulises Arias from the left which just missed the target with Oualid El Hasni failing to connect on 33 minutes.

Balzan made it 3-0 six minutes from the end of the first half.

Kaljevic provided an assist from the right and Angel Torres slotted the ball past Formosa from close range.

Just before the end of the first half, Matheus Souza served Andrejic from the left but the latter’s effort was blocked by Formosa, onto the crossbar, before being cleared into safety.

After the break, Gianluca Atzori roped in Mattia Veselji and Owen Spiteri and then included Lorenzo Trillo.

And three minutes after entering the pitch, Trillo reduced the gap for Floriana with an angled shot from the left following a cross by Adam Magri Overend and a deflection by Kemar Reid.  

The Greens showed some improvement and Balzan goalkeeper Jonathan Debono blocked with particular difficulty a corner from the left by Arias on 69 minutes.

However, four minutes from time, Floriana were reduced to ten men as Emiliano Callegari was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity when he fouled Alex Satariano as he was about to enter the area as Balzan cruised to victory.