Żabbar come from behind to beat Balzan and blow relegation battle wide open

BALZAN       1       

Hili 11

ŻABBAR SP 2       

Gambarte 49

Santos 80

BALZAN

D. Ciappara, G. Camilleri, S. Arab, T. Caruana, J. Busuttil, H. Stanic, J. Grech, U. Akopan, R. Floro, E. Kamsoba (10 B. Hili)(60’ I. Westendorf), M. Lima.

ŻABBAR

M. Grech, J. Micallef, W. Bonilha, B. Gambarte (82’ D. Jovicic), S. Ilic (46’ M. Santos), Z. Grech, D. Tavares (74’ L. Agius), S. Jovancic, V. De Paiva, K, Keqi, Joao Pedro (62’ M. Ferreira).

Referee: Emanuel Grech.

Yellow cards: De Paiva, Arab, Ilic, B. Hili, M. Santos

Żabbar St. Patrick scored two goals in the second half as they came from behind to beat Balzan 2-1 in the basement clash from the 360Sports Malta Premier Opening Round Bottom 6.

This was the second win for Żabbar this season.

Ironically, the only win for the Saints, who were coming from seven successive defeats, was against the same Balzan.

Although the latter managed to take an early lead, Żabbar soon started threatening their opponents’ rearguard and in the finished as deserved winners.

Although Żabbar are still bottom of the table, just two points now separate the two teams.

Just over a minute had passed and Rafael Floro hit the foot of the upright for Balzan with a powerful long-distance effort.

Four minutes later, Diogo Tavares provided Stefan Ilic with a perfect pass but the latter hit the crossbar from close range.

Balzan managed to take the lead on 11 minutes. Udoyen Akpan concluded a good run on the right flank with a cross from which substitute Benjamin Hili, who had just replaced the injured Elvis Kamsoba, hit home.

Żabbar replied with a freekick from the left from which, Kristian Keqi headed just wide on 19 minutes and six minutes later, the same player headed just over the bar off a cross from the right.

A freekick by Vinicius De Paiva was turned into a corner by goalkeeper Dylan Ciappara on 42 minutes.

Żabbar levelled mattes four minutes in the second half.

Substitute Marcelo Santos provided the assist from the left and Brian Gambarte tapped the ball home from close range.

The Saints were now brimming with confidence and on 57 minutes, off a cross by Diogo Tavares, Keqi went close with an acrobatic shot which ended just over the bar.

Nine minutes later, Gambarte served Marcelo Santos whose powerful  shot was blocked by a defender.

Marcelo Santos had a powerful shot from outside the area neutralised by Ciappara on 73 minutes.

Żabbar notched the winner ten minutes from time.

Vinicius De Paiva advanced on the left and into the area before serving Marcelo Santos who slotted the ball from close range past the Balzan custodian.

The Saints kept pushing for more and on 87 minutes, Santos had a shot from outside the area partially saved by Ciappara with Martim Ferreira hitting the woodwork off the rebound.