Balzan overcome Gżira United to secure second victory

BALZAN          2         

Stanic 20; Westendorf 72

GŻIRA UNITED       1         

Bohrer 83

BALZAN

D. Golovic, S, Arab, N. Pulis, I. Westendorf, J. Busuttil, H. Stanic, N. Zerjal (40 O. Awosanya), K. Williams, U. Akpan (67 T. Caruana), M. Ahadi (73’ G. Camilleri), M. Lima (67 J. Grech).

GŻIRA UNITED

D. Zarkov, G. Bohrer, T. Aldama, Z. Scerri, M. Dias (64’ B. Borg), L. Riascos, J. Pisani, E. Saint, A. Da Paixao (75’ F. Chouaib), F. Romero (90’ Douglas), K. Tulimieri.

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards: D. Golovic, E. Saint

Balzan returned to winning ways as they defeated Gżira United 2-1 and move just behind the Maroons. In fact, for Gżira, this was the second successive defeat as they have now gone three matches without a win.

Darijan Zarkov was back in goal for Gżira while Marcelo Dias and Ebisindor Christian Saint were handed a start. Balzan, on the other hand, had four changes from the team which lost to Marsaxlokk as Henri Stanic was back after serving a one-match ban while Isaac Westendorf, Marcel Lima and Mossier Ahadi were named in the starting line-up.

Gżira held the initiative in the opening minutes and after just two minutes, an assist by Thaylor for Alex Da Paixao saw the ball being deflected into a corner. Seven minutes later, Da Paixao went close with a fine shot from outside the area, saved in two attempts by goalkeeper Danilo Golovic. Ebisindor Christian Saint then hit just wide off an assist by Thaylor from the right on 11 minutes.

However, against the run of play, Balzan took the lead on 20 minutes. Jan Busuttil delivered a freekick from the right and Henri Stanic chested the ball past Golovic

Balzan were now brimming with confidence and Isaac Westendorf concluded a good run on the left flank with a powerful shot which was however blocked by Golovic on 27 minutes. A Gabriel Bohrer Mentz freekick for Gżira was blocked on 34 minutes and one minute from the end of the first half, Kevin Williams came to the rescue for Balzan, clearing into safety a lob by Thaylor from the right.

In the second half, Gżira went out in search of the equaliser but the best chance fell at the feet of Alex da Paixao whose low shot from the edge of the area ended just wide on 70 minutes.

However, Balzan doubled the score on 72 minutes. Isaac Westendorf concluded a good run on the left flank with a angled shot which beat goalkeeper Zarkov.

The Maroons replied with a Gabriel Bohrer freekick which was parried by Golovic on 76 minutes.

Seven minutes from time, Gżira pulled one back. Substitute Faysal Chouaib was brought down inside the area. Referee Glen Tonna ordered a penalty and Mentz converted from the spot.