Blasco’s late penalty keeps Balzan’s hopes of avoiding the drop alive

HIBERNIANS        1       

Villela pen 5

BALZAN               1       

Kamsoba 89

HIBERNIANS

P. Sanchez, K. Shaw, L. Villela (75 I. Chukunyere), K. Fraga, J. Degabriele (59 A. Bruno), D. Xuereb (90 S. Hamanojda), F. Falcone (59 Miullen), A. Martinis, M. Ellul, P. Henrique, R. Bruno.

BALZAN

D. Golovic (72 D. Ciappara), S. Arab, N. Pulis, J. Busuttil (72 M. Bacanin), A. Dimeji, H. Stanic, L. Jankovic (46 V. Blasco), L. Lukovic, U. Akpan, R. Floro, E. Kamsoba.

Referee: Daniel Portelli.

Yellow cards: Arab, Fraga, Villela, Henrique, Xuereb.

Red cards: Fraga (H) 60, Arab (B) 60.

Missed penalty: Blasco (B) 88.

Balzan scored a vital equaliser as they held Hibernians in a 1-1 draw in the Bottom Six.

The draw puts Balzan level on points with Naxxar Lions although the latter have a game in hand, with the two teams entangled in the battle to avoid automatic relegation to the Challenge League.

Hibernians, on the other hand, have now secured their Malta Premier status although they have now gone three matches without a win.

The Paolites had a perfect start, taking the lead on five minutes.

Referee Daniel Portelli ordered a penalty after Samir Arab pulled Jurgen Degabriele down inside the area and from the penalty spot, Lucas Villela converted.

Balzan went close to equalising with a rising shot by Awosanya Dimeji from the left which hit the crossbar on 31 minutes.

In added time, Nicholas Pulis hit high off a Jan Busuttil corner from left.

In the second half, Balzan went in search of the equaliser and on 51 minutes, Rafael Floro delivered a great cross but there was no one to connect.

On the hour, Hibernians were reduced to ten men after Kevin Fraga received a second yellow card for a foul on Victor Blasco.

However just seconds later, Balzan also had a player sent off as captain Samir Arab received a second booking and had to abandon the field of play.

Busuttil tried his luck with a long-distance shot ending wide on 68 minutes as Balzan maintained the pressure.

Two minutes later, Luka Lukovic hit high with a powerful drive from outside the area.

Hibs goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez performed a good save on a cross-shot by Blasco on 73 minutes and a minute later, a freekick by Floro ended high.

Six minutes later, off a cross by Nicholas Pulis, Marko Bacanin’s header was parried by the Hibs custodian.

Two minutes from time, Balzan were awarded a penalty but Victor Blasco’s effort from the penalty spot was saved in two attempts by Sanchez.

However one minute later, Balzan were not to be denied.

Pulis provided the assist to Elvis Kamsoba whose powerful drive ended into the top right corner.