Following a defeat to Hibernians and a draw with Hamrun, Balzan returned to winning ways joining Hamrun in sixth place. For Balzan, this was a match which they had to win in order to boost their morale ahead of the Super Cup final.

The only change that Balzan made from last game against Hamrun was that they preferred Stefan Dimic to Ricardo Correa . On the other hand Santa Lucia made three changes to the team that lost to Floriana where Adam Magri Overend and Jamie Magri Overend started instead of Jamie Zerafa and Jacob Walker while Diego Mosquera replaced Luis Riascos.

The first half was evenly balanced with both sides showing a lot of aggression and intensity but still struggled to create scoring opportunities. Santa Lucia made it difficult for their opponents but missed a handful of chances whereas Balzan were more tangible in front of goal.

Santa Lucia had the first chance to score in the 16^th minute when Jamie Magri Overend tried his luck with a long-range shot which was well saved by goalkeeper Kristjan Naumovski.

Balzan responded on the half hour and were unlucky in not taking the lead. A free-kick taken by Steve Pisani was connected by Andrija Majdevac but his header was deflected against the bar and into a corner by Jackson Mendoza, with goalkeeper Ryan Caruana completely beaten.

The second period started with Santa Lucia going near through Camilo Escobar whose fierce shot was pushed away by the goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.

But in the 49^th minute, it was Balzan who took the lead. Following a swift counter attack, Uros Ljubomirac set ANDRIJA MAJDEVAC who beat goalkeeper Ryan Caruana with a low shot.

Balzan were now holding the upper hand and two minutes later, goalkeeper Ryan Caruana came to the rescue of his side when he did well to push away Ljubomirac’s shot.

In the 56^th minute, Santa Lucia replied through Adam Magri Overend who saw his shot being saved by Kristijan Naumovski.

But on the hour Balzan doubled their lead when off a corner taken by Steve Pisani, ANDRIJA MAJDEVAC headed past helpless Ryan Caruana, scoring his personal second goal.

In the 74^th minute, Sta Lucia could have pulled a goal back but a shot by Kevin Ante Rosero’s hit the upright with the Balzan goalkeeper beaten.

However in the 82^nd minute Balzan sealed the issue when after Alfred Effiong was brought down in the area by Luis Riascos and the referee ordered a penaltymedium. ANDRIJA MAJDEVAC took it and converted from the spot, completing a hat-trick and giving three valuable points to Balzan.

SANTA LUCIA: Ryan Caruana, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Adam Magri Overend, Jackson David Usuga Mendoza, Jamie Magri Overend (Daniel Agius 64′), Kevin Ante Rosero, Luis Carlos Riascos Torres, Farid Zuniga, Camilo del Castillo Escobar, Lee Galea, Rei Tachikawa (Omar Elouni77′).

BALZAN: Kristijan Naumovski, Augustine Loof, Aleksandar Kosoric, Steven Pisani, Michael Johnson (Steven Bezzina 37′), Paul Fenech (Luke Montebello 87′), Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Stefan Dimic (Dale Camilleri 78′), Andrija Majdevac.

Referee: Darryl Agius

Player of the match: Andrija Majdevac