First-half goals earn Balzan first win of the season

BALZAN 2

Akpan 4, Ahadi 6

NAXXAR LIONS 0

BALZAN

D. Golovic, S. Arab, M. Grima (71 T. Caruana), N. Pulis, I. Westendorf (46 D. Awosanya), J. Busuttil, H. Stanic, N. Zerjal, K. Williams, A. Akpan (85 J. Grech), M. Ahadi (81 G. Camilleri).

NAXXAR L

M. Debono, V. Gualberto, T. Yamaguchi (80 K. Haber), N. Pace Cocks, F. Taumaturgo, E. Farias (79 S. Degabriele), R. Cassar (46 N. Micallef), L. de Almeida Dias, Caxambu (66 G. Barbosa), F. Barbosa (66 K. Debono), D. Jackson.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Busuttil, Almeida, Ahadi, Farias, Gualberto.

Red card: Busuttil (B) 28.

Two goals in the first six minutes handed Balzan their first victory of the season at the expense of Naxxar Lions.

Alexander Akpan rifled in an angled shot, before Mosawer Ahadi slotted in the second goal. It was nothing less than a sensational start at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

Balzan came flying out the blocks and went two goals up inside six minutes. Within four minutes of the kick-off a Nikola Zerjal cross found Alexander Akpan clean through on the other side, before hitting a low drive behind Matthias Debono.

Two minutes later, Zerjal, who was superb throughout the first half, again pierced the Naxxar defence, his shot was partially saved by Debono with the rebound falling kindly into the path of Mosawer Ahadi who hit the ball home.

The game exploded into life on 28 minutes when Jan Busuttil received a second yellow card after hauling down Sergio de Almeida.

Naxxar upped the tempo in a bid to make their numerical advantage count.

On 39 minutes, Caxambu picked Federico Lima Taumaturgo inside the area and the Brazilian striker tried to beat Danilo Golovic with an audacious back-heel but the ball finished off target.

On 50 minutes, Neil Pace Cocks provided a perfect looping cross from halfway line for Takuma Yamaguchi in the Balzan box, but the Japanese midfielder allowed Kevin Williams to close him down and block his effort.

Ahadi was a constant thorn in Naxxar’s side and on 55 minutes, he stormed down the left flank and delivered a great ball for substitute Dimeji Awosanya who hit a low shot that was deflected into a corner.

Rather than spur Naxxar into a response, their play became all the more limp.

In the final minute, substitute Gustavo Barbosa’s shot which ended just wide, was all Naxxar could muster in way of a reaction.