Akpan’s last-gasp strike hands Balzan thrilling victory over Mosta

BALZAN 3

Lukovic 25; Busuttil 48

Akpan 86

MOSTA 2

Goncalves 14, Brincat 77

BALZAN

D. Ciappara, S. Arab, T. Caruana, J. Busuttil, D. Oluwatobiloba, H. Stanic, L. Jankovic (78 N. Pulis), L. Lukovic. V. Blasco (86 B. Hili), U. Akpan (90 I. Westendorf), R. Floro.

MOSTA

D. Akpan, P. Afriyie, S. Cachia, L. Lassina (65 Z. Brincat), S. Kone, G. Goncalves, C. Failla, N. Agius, S. Okerekere, J. Teixeira, O. Yaccouba (65 J. Agyemang).

Referee: Alex Johnson.

Yellow card: Goncalves,

Balzan’s revival under Daryl Willard continued in a dramatic style after prevailing in a thriller against Mosta at the National Stadium.

Mosta took an early lead, but Balzan staged a stirring fightback.

Balzan did the real damage after the break, trying to ease fears of direct relegation.

It was a missed opportunity for Mosta as a second consecutive victory at the start of the Closing Round would have put them in a strong position for a place in the Top 6 qualification.

It was Mosta who started more positively and opened the scoring inside the first 15 minutes when Giancarlo Goncalves finished instinctively from Clayton Failla’s cross.

But Balzan rallied and equalised after 25 minutes.

Victor Blasco created a great chance for Luka Lukovic who powerfully headed home the Spaniards’ pin-point cross.

The goal sparked a marked improvement from Balzan and their biggest hope of grabbing the lead came in the shape of Jan Busuttil. The talented midfielder first was out of luck on 40 minutes when he capitalised on a poor clearance by Mosta goalkeeper David Akpan Udoh only to send a shot just wide.

Six minutes later, Busuttil came even closer to the lead when the lively Balsco sent him clear and the midfielder looked to have taken the ball round Akpan but hit it again wide.

Balzan continued to dominate after the break. Busuttil delivered a cross from freekick into the penalty area and Failla, in an attempt to clear the danger, inadvertently deflected the ball past the Mosta goalkeeper.

Mosta had barely been seen as an attacking force after the break but, on 75 minutes, Failla flashed the ball across the goalmouth and substitute Zachary Brincat applied the finishing touch.

But Balzan always looked the more dangerous side, with Blasco at the heart of most of their play.

Four minutes from time, Blasco put in an inviting cross that led to their third and winning goal when Alexander Akpan hit the ball behind the Mosta goalkeeper.