Birkirkara defender Alessandro Coppola (left) in a duel with Oluwotabiloba Awosanya. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
BALZAN 3
Stanic 17; Pulis 40; Akpan 50
BIRKIRKARA 3
Maxuell 13, 45 pen., 83 pen.
BALZAN
D. Golovic; S. Arab, T. Caruana (53 C. Buschmann-Dormond) (90 G. Camilleri), N. Pulis, I. Westendorf (71 O. Awosanya), J. Busuttil. H. Stanic, N. Zerjal, K. Williams, W. Akpan, M. Ahadi (71 M. Grima).
BIRKIRKARA
G. Volpe; G. Volpe, M. Morello, A. Sandona, S. Dimech (64 A. Zammit), P. Mbong, K. Zammit, A. Satariano, N. Micallef (64 P. Gaitan), A. Coppola, Maicon, Maxuell (89 H. Martins).
Referee Matthew De Gabriele.
Yellow cards Satariano, Ahadi.
Brazilian striker Maxuell Maia came to Birkirkara’s rescue as the prolific forward netted a hat-trick to help his team come from behind twice to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against Balzan in their league opener.
Balzan will certainly feel disappointed not to have left the National Stadium wih all points in the bag as they produced an eye-catching display which saw them recover from an early setback to punish their opponents sluggish defending to go 3-2 ahead early in the second half.
However, Birkirkara grew in stature late on, and inspired by the excellent Maxuell, they managed to grind out a point.
Both Balzan and Birkirkara were being led by new faces in the dugout with the former led by English coach Dave Rogers and Birkirkara by former Ħamrun Spartans assistant coach Stefano De Angelis.
Balzan, on their part, were captained by Samir Arab and fielded some of their new signings from the start including Nicholas Pulis, Isaac Westendorf, Henri Stanic, Kevin Williams, Udoywen Akpan and Mosawer Ahadi.
On the other hand, Birkirkara had new goalkeeper Giacomo Volpe between the sticks while summer arrivals Manuel Morello, Augustin Sandona and Maicon were given the nod the start.
Malta international Shaun Dimech, who joined the Stripes after his transfer to Bosnian football collapsed over the summer window, was also in the starting XI.
Balzan looked to implement their high-press game from the start but it was Birkirkara who broke the deadlock through Samurai who headed home from a corner-kick situation after just 13 minutes.
Their lead was cut short after four minutes when an unmarked Henri Stanic beat Giacomo Volpe with a towering header.
Chances were at a premium with Birkirkara never testing Golovic while Balzan looking to beat Volpe with a couple of freekicks, but which proved unsuccessful.
Volpe, though, could do not thing to deny Pulis who marked his debut with a fine strike from the edge of the area to put Balzan ahead.
However, Birkirkara did manage to level terms before half-time when Maxuell converted a penalty he had won after being tripped by Kevin Williams inside the box.
After the change of ends, Balzan were immediately awarded a penalty. Udoyen Akpan was floored by Alexander Satariano.
From the spot, Akpan made no mistake to beat Volpe and put Balzan one goal ahead once again.
Birkirkara tried to hit back and Maxuell almost completed his hat-trick but his header finished just wide on 67 minutes.
The Brazilian forward was inadvertently denied from an equaliser by his team-mate Paul Mbong on 74 minutes.
Maicon powered his way through and his cross was palmed away by Golovic with the ball falling to Maxuell who saw his firm drive kept out by Mbong who was lying down on the goalline.
Maxuell made amends nine minutes from time when he won a penalty after being fouled by Pulis and from the spot the Brazilian drilled the ball home to complete his hat-trick.
