NAXXAR LIONS 0
BALZAN 3
Akpan 20; Busuttil 73
Lukovic 89
NAXXAR LIONS
M. Debono, B. Sane, N. Pace Cocks (76 T. Ndao), E. Bolanos (46 J.P. Farrugia), E. Farias, R. Cassar (63 N. Micallef), H. Coelho (82 C. Zamoranho), A. Helder, Maicon, F. Pereira, Y. Ito (46 T. Yamaguchi).
BALZAN
D. Golovic, S. Arab, T. Caruana (91 M. Grima), N. Pulis, I. Westendorf (89 M. Bacanin), J. Busuttil (91 J. Grech), D. Oluwatobiloba, L. Lukovic, V. Blasco (89 B. Hili), A. Udoyen (91 G. Cacciatore), R. Floro.
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic.
Yellow cards: Neil Pace Cocks.
Balzan boosted their hopes of avoiding direct relegation with a stunning victory.
Jan Busuttil embodied a resurgent Balzan spirit, scoring from close range before setting set up Luka Lukovic for a third goal while Alexander Ayo Akpan had headed his team into a first-half lead.
Balzan started a new chapter under the guidance of coach Andrew Cohen and fired on all cylinders in a thrilling bottom-of-the-table clash.
The victory now moved Balzan level with Mosta and Żabbar SP on six points but above Melita and Gżira while Naxxar remained rooted at the bottom of the table with no points.
If Balzan’s players needed anyone to remind them of the importance of winning this game against the relegation-battling rivals, their coach let them know why.
Despite his appointment as Balzan’s new coach was only finalised on Tuesday, it didn’t stop him from ringing the changes as apart from the inclusion of Rafael Floro back from suspension, Isaac Westendorf, Busuttil and Nicholas Pulis were all restored to the first team, proposing an offensive-minded formation.
The desire of both teams was plain to see as the match was played at a frenetic pace.
Angulo Bolanos failed to take a half-chance for Naxxar Lions before Balzan went in front.
Victor Blasco’s cross looped into the box where Alexander Akpan beat Matthias Debono from close in.
Balzan kept up the pressure as Isaac Westendorf came in front of Debono but the German striker was denied by the goalkeeper who leapt to block his effort after 25 minutes.
Blasco delivered another superb cross but Debono brilliantly kept out Busuttil’s effort.
At the other end, Fernando Pereira had a brief glimpse of goal following a fine move by Edson Farias on the left, but the Brazilian was unable to get a clean strike on the ball.
Three minutes from half-time Dimeji Awosanya initiated and finished another Balzan move, firing in a shot that was hooked off the line by Ryan Gilmour Cassar.
Naxxar coach George Vella made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Jean Paul Farrugia and Takuma Yamaguchi, and the Japanese winger immediately gave the Lions hopes when he nodded in a terrific cross-cum-shot which Balzan goalkeeper Danilo Golovic tipped over the bar.
Westendorf was causing the Naxxar defence plenty of problems, but the German striker drove his fierce shot wide after 51 minutes.
The Lions were putting more men forward with Maicon having an attempt finishing wide.
But few minutes later, Busuttil piled on the misery for Naxxar with a second goal.
Blasco was at it again on 73 minutes, this time, hitting a low drive which Debono saved with great difficulty, but couldn’t hold the ball. Busuttil was the quickest to react and hit the ball home.
Naxxar ran out of steam and Balzan eventually made it 3-0 when Busuttil turned smartly inside the box before serving Luka Lukovic who scored from close-range.
