Victor Filho's header which put Valletta ahead against Balzan. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
VALLETTA 1-0 BALZAN Victor Filho 41.
VALLETTA A. Guarnone; S. Ferraris, G. Braganca, J. Azzopardi (85 Z. Barbara), C. Gauci, K. Ewurum (74 Jhonnattan), F. Falcone, B. Paiber, V. Filho, A. Silas (75 M. Jezdimirovic), D. Garba (85 E. Ruiz).
BALZAN R. Briffa; A. Prates, S. Arab (80 M. Grima), T. Caruana, P. Fenech, J. Busuttil (80 H. Euigwon), N. Zerjal, N. Braunovic, O. Rommens, A. Andrejic, G. Blackwood (63 O. Awosanya).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow card: Ferraris.
A Victor Filho’s header was enough to hand Valletta a crucial win over Balzan in their bid to avoid the drop from the Premier League.
Valletta remain third from bottom but move to 24 points, just three distant from safety, after halting their run of negative results.
In fact, this was Valletta’s first league win in 10 matches after their last victory was back in January when they defeated Sirens 3-0.
They face Naxxar Lions and Gudja United in their last two games of the season.
Valletta’s coach Juan Cruz Gill made two changes to the starting formation for this must-win match for them on Sunday afternoon.
The Argentine coach started with Christian Gauci and Santiago Ferraris who replace the suspended Juan Bolanos and Fernando Barrientos.
The remaining players, including captain Brandon Paiber, were all in last week’s starting line-up in the 2-2 draw against Hibernians.
On the other hand, Balzan are still not mathematically safe as they are now just four points above the red zone following Mosta’s win against Hibs.
Coach Oliver Spiteri made one change to his line-up as captain Fenech took his place in the midfield.
Last week, Balzan drew with Sliema Wanderers 1-1.
No goals were scored in the first round encounter between Valletta and Balzan.
Victor Filho’s goal for Valletta against Balzan.
Balzan threatened first through captain Paul Fenech, on his return, just to see his freekick go wide from Alessandro Guarnone’s goal.
The Citizens had replied through a Keyon Ewurum’s long-range effort which sailed over Balzan’s bar.
Valletta opened the score four minutes from half-time when Christian Gauci sprayed a long-ball from the back which Federico Falcone directed towards Filho with a towering header and the Brazilian player lobbed the ball over Briffa for his first goal of the season.
In the second half, Balzan came agonisingly close to level terms but Jan Busuttil’s close-range drive went inches wide from Alessandro Guarnone’s goal.
Balzan continued to create more chances but Olivier Rommens, one of January’s winter signings, failed to test the Italian goalkeeper with his long-range efforts.
Substitute Olu Awosanya send shivers down Valletta’s spine with a strike just to be inches wide.
