Balzan score vital win over struggling Melita

BALZAN      3       

Akpan 50; Dimeji 75, 90

MELITA       1       

Simanca 57

BALZAN

D. Golovic, S. Arab, M. Grima, N. Pulis, J. Busuttil (90 W. Borg), A. Dimeji (90 G. Farrugia), H. Stanic, V. Blasco (63 G. Cacciatore), A. Akpan (90 M. Bacanic), R. Floro, E. Kamsoba.

MELITA

A. Lubik, A. Simanca (79 N. Cutajar), J.P. Attard, A. Borg Olivier (69 K. Mohnani), M. Bovenkamp, D. Xuereb (79 C. Gyamfi), J. Yepez, G. Barone, K. Bondin (82 E. Attard), C. Sanchez, S. Martinez.

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards: Attard, V. Blasco, M. Grima, K. Mohnani, Simanca, Pulis, Cutajar.

Balzan scored a crucial victory as they defeated Melita 3-1 to leave the latter anchored at the bottom of the table.

This was the first win in over two months for Andrew Cohen’s side – two months in which they had collected five points in five draws, losing the other two. They now move one point ahead of Naxxar Lions and four ahead of Melita.

For Melita, this was the fourth successive defeat as they have now gone seven matches without a win.

Balzan had three changes from the team which drew with Gżira as they welcomed back Samir Arab, Victor Blasco and Rafael Floro in the starting line-up replacing Nemanja Kerkez, Benjamin Hili and Marcus Ndombasi.

Melita, on the other hand, had Aleksander Lubik back in goal while Michael Cachia, Karl Mohnani and Andre made way for Gareth Barone, David Xuereb and Jesus Yepez.

In a most quiet first half, Balzan missed a good opportunity on 23 minutes with Awosanya Dimeji failing to connect off an inviting cross by Rafael Floro.

Melita replied with a Santiago Martinez long-distance effort which was blocked by Danilo Golovic on the half-hour.

Just before the end of the first half, Lubik came to the rescue for Melita blocking an angled shot by Elvis Kamsoba from the right.

The match came to life in the second half and on 50 minutes, Balzan took the lead. Victor Blasco released Floro on the left and the latter delivered a cross with Udoyen Akpan slotting the ball past goalkeeper Lubik.

Melita replied with a Kurt Bondin effort that flew wide.

However, Melita levelled matters on 57 minutes.

Alan Borg Olivier delivered a corner from the right, the ball was not held by goalkeeper Golovic and Aldair Simanca placed the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes later, Golovic blocked a well-taken freekick by Gareth Barone with the ball cleared into a corner by a defender.

But on 61 minutes, in a swift counter break for Balzan, Blasco had a shot from the left blocked into a corner by Lubik.

Jan Busuttil had a fine volley from outside the area ending high on 68 minutes.

However, on 75 minutes, Balzan regained the lead.

Following a good move between Akpan and Cacciatore, Busuttil served Awosanya Oluwatobiloba who hit low past goalkeeper Lubik.

Two minutes in added time, Balzan sealed the issue with another goal.

Busuttil sent Oluwatobiloba through and the latter rounded a defender before beating the Melita custodian with a shot from the edge of the area.