Messias strikes to pile more pressure on Balzan

MARSAXLOKK 2

Caruana 3og; Messias 72

BALZAN           1

Caruana 23

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnjak, K. Micallef, N. Muscat, Y. Messias, U. Arias (83 D. Bonnici), A. De Aguiar, E. Pena Beltre, R. Holzhauser (66 J. Quitongo), L. Aguirre, N. Raden (35 L. Lopez), R. Scicluna.

BALZAN

D. Ciappara, S. Arab, T. Caruana, N. Pulis (C. Buschmann-Dormond), J. Busuttil, O. Awosanya, H. Stanic, K. Williams, U. Akpan, E. Kamsoba, M. Lima.

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele.

Yellow cards Awosanya, Williams, Kamsoba, De Aguiar, Pulis, Micallef,

Red card: Awosanya (B) 80.

Marsaxlokk piled more pressure on lowly Balzan as fine strike from Yuri Messias condemned them to a 2-1 defeat.

It was another disappointing defeat for Balzan who after conceding early on they managed to claw themselves back into the match and looked the likelier side to find a crucial second goal.

However, Marsaxlokk’s superior quality upfront made all the difference with Messias handing the side to lift the southerners just behind Bottom Six leaders Gżira United.

Marsaxlokk took the lead after six minutes when from a Yuri Messias corner kick, the ball fell to Nikolai Muscat who saw his shot inadvertently turned into his own goal by Triston Caruana.

The southerners continued to push forward and on 13 minutes, Messias fed Enmy Pena Beltre who fired over from a good position.

Balzan finally came back into the match on 23 minutes when Caruana more than made up for his previous mishap when he fired home the equaliser.

The goal spurred Balzan to push more men forward and on 32 minutes henri Stanic connected to Jan Busuttil’s corner and his header was deflected just wide by a Marsaxlokk defender.

Marsaxlokk were forced to make their first change on 35 minutes and Nikola Raden limped out injured and was replaced by Lucas Lopez.

Three minutes from the break, Kamsoba surged into the Marsaxlokk area and fell under the challenge of Enmy Pena Beltre.

But referee Matthew De Gabriele waved play on and booked the Balzan forward for simulation.

In injury time, Messias sped inside the Balzan area and chipped the ball across the face of goal but found no takers before Pena Beltre headed wide from the far post.

Seven minutes into the second half Balzan were unlucky not to take the lead when Jan Busuttil fed Marcel Lima who saw his shot coming off the woodwork.

Minutes later, Samir Arab picked Caruana on the edge of the area and the veteran midfielder was denied by a fine reflex save from Marko Drobnjak.

Marsaxlokk replied just past the hour mark when Alex De Aguiar forced his way through but his low shot was well saved by Dylan Ciappara.

On 64 minutes, Marsaxlokk felt aggrieved for not being awarded a penalty as Kevin Williams clearly touched with his outstretched arm Lucas Lopez’s header but referee Matthew De Gabriele waved play on and booked defender Karl Micallef for protests.

At the other end, Stanic connected to another Busuttil corner kick but his header flashed wide.

However, it was Marsaxlokk who grabbed the winner on 72 minutes when Messias controlled the ball inside the area and after moving past two defenders he hammered the ball into the roof of the net.

Balzan’s hopes of fighting back were ended on 80 minutes when Awosanya was sent off for a second yellow card as Marsaxlokk easily administered their lead.