BOV Premier League: Balzan record fourth consecutive win

Balzan FC             1
Pieta H                 0

Balzan FC: S. Sultana, J. Grioli (E. Serrano Valero 46'), D. Camilleri, A. Alves, S. Bezzina (Y. Miyamoto 81'), M. Johnson, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomirac, I. Bozovic, R. Correa Duarte  (S. Cipriott 64'), A. Majdevac

Pieta H. FC: N. Vella, T. Ose, T. Bartolo, N. Pace Cocks (C. Bouvet 90'), P. Chimezie, J. Busuttil, J. Artiaga Roa (J. Ghigo 86'), C. Grech, S. Nakamura (N. Pisani 77'), I. Jalo, A. Macedo

Referee: Darryl Agius

Asst refs: Roberto Vella, Duncan Spencer

4th official: Keith Montebello

Scorers: Alfred Effiong 85'

Yellow cards:  P.Chimezie

Player of the match: Alex Da Paoxao Alves (Balzan)

TMI Top 3: 1. A. Alves  2. J. Busuttil  3. A. Effiong

Balzan continued their winning streak when a goal five minutes from time scored by Alfred Effiong gave them maximum points from a tricky encounter against lowly Pieta. It was a rather balanced affair though Balzan had marginal superiority over their opponents. The Hotspurs had a golden opportunity to gain a point from this match when in added time they missed a penalty.

Balzan welcomed back from a three-match suspension Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte though they had to do without the suspended Milos Lepovic. In their last match they defeated Mosta by a 3-1 scoreline.

Pieta's coach Ramon Zammit had the full compliment at his disposal making two changes from their last match, the 1-1 draw against Senglea. In came Neil Pace Cocks and Juan Manuel Ortiaga Roa with Dylan Agius and Antonio Orlando Machedo relegated to the substitutes bench,

In the 11^th minute Effiong tried his luck from inside the box but his effort was easy prey for Vella. And on 20  minutes Effiong found Majdevac whose long range shot hit the upright. Pieta responded a minute later when Ose set Artiaga but the latters shot didn't cause any havoc.

Pieta were now coming more into the equation and in the 24^th minute Jan Busuttil passed towards Nakamura but his shot was blocked by Vella. Balzan countered a few minutes later and protested for an alleged penalty when Macedo appeared to have brought down Majdevac but the match official waved play on.

On resumption Balzan made all the early running and in the 55^th minute a Correa shot from the edge of the area was saved by Vella. Just past the hour Balzan went close once again. A Ljubomirac shot was partially blocked by Vella with Effiong taking the rebound and beating the Hotspurs custodian but Christian Grech was on the line to clear into safety.

This was a sight of relief for Pieta who in the 64^th minute went close through a Jan Busuttil acute shot but an alert Sultana palmed into a corner. But Balzan continued to dictate possession and also have the occasional chance. Eleven minutes from the end a Cipriott free kick was headed by Johnson but his conclusion just missed the target.

On the other end Chimezie passed towards an unmarked Pace Cocks but he completely miscued his shot when well placed.

And five minutes from the end Alfred Effiong scored the winner when on receiving a pass inside the area he slotted calmly into the corner of the net. In added time Pieta could have saved their blushes but Dylan Agius shot centrally from the spot with Sultana the penalty materializing following a Johnson foul on substitute Bouvet.

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