A penalty by Weverton Gomes Souza handed Balzan a narrow win over Tarxien Rainbows at the National Stadium.

For this first match of the season, Tarxien’s new coach Winston Muscat had goalkeeper Daniel Marcia Fernandes, Anderson do Nascimento Carneiro, Vito Plut, Vanger Conceicao da Silva, Eduardo Rosado Souza, Karl Pulo and Kyle Gatt all making their first appearance.

On the other end Balzan, also led by a new coach Mark Miller, had Eric Lemond McWoods, Markos Ermin Moustakis, Weverton Gomes Souza, Moussa Kamara and Suleiman Jalu, all making their debut.

Balzan needed a second-half penalty from new signing Weverton Gomes Souza to take all the three points. However, Balzan had to struggled to break down a determined Tarxien Rainbows side.

Tarxien had new signing goalkeeper Daniel Marcio Fernandes in excellent form, denying Balzan on various occasions.

During the first half Balzan looked short of ideas but they stepped up their game in the second half and in the end managed to take their first win of the season.

No actions were noted to report in the first 20 minutes as both teams were studying each other. However Tarxien looked the brighter side but they failed to test Balzan goalkeeper.

The first shot on target arrived in the 23rd minute when in a swift break Suleiman Jalu sped towards the edge of the area and hit a thumping drive that was pushed away by the alert Tarxien goalkeeper David Fernandes.

Balzan had the higher percentage of possession but for all their superiority they struggled to create any danger.

Two minutes from the break, Augustine Loof made his way forward but his shot was easily saved by Fernandes.

After the break, Balzan stepped up their effort and in the 51st minute, following a quickly-taken free-kick, Uros Ljubomirac made his way into the area but his shot was again punched away by Fernandes.

Four minutes later, Balzan had the best chance when Eric McWoods outmuscled Anderson Carnerio with the ball falling to the sprinting Paul Fenech, who with only the goalkeeper to beat, saw Fernandes making a fine save.

At the other end, Tarxien came close when Vito Plut found his way into the area from the right and picked Vagner who headed wide from good position.

A penalty by Weverton Gomes Souza handed Balzan a narrow win over Tarxien Rainbows at the National Stadium.

For this first match of the season, Tarxien’s new coach Winston Muscat had goalkeeper Daniel Marcia Fernandes, Anderson do Nascimento Carneiro, Vito Plut, Vanger Conceicao da Silva, Eduardo Rosado Souza, Karl Pulo and Kyle Gatt all making their first appearance.

On the other end Balzan, also led by a new coach Mark Miller, had Eric Lemond McWoods, Markos Ermin Moustakis, Weverton Gomes Souza, Moussa Kamara and Suleiman Jalu, all making their debut.

Balzan needed a second-half penalty from new signing Weverton Gomes Souza to take all the three points. However, Balzan had to struggled to break down a determined Tarxien Rainbows side.

Tarxien had new signing goalkeeper Daniel Marcio Fernandes in excellent form, denying Balzan on various occasions.

During the first half Balzan looked short of ideas but they stepped up their game in the second half and in the end managed to take their first win of the season.

No actions were noted to report in the first 20 minutes as both teams were studying each other. However Tarxien looked the brighter side but they failed to test Balzan goalkeeper.

The first shot on target arrived in the 23rd minute when in a swift break Suleiman Jalu sped towards the edge of the area and hit a thumping drive that was pushed away by the alert Tarxien goalkeeper David Fernandes.

Balzan had the higher percentage of possession but for all their superiority they struggled to create any danger.

Two minutes from the break, Augustine Loof made his way forward but his shot was easily saved by Fernandes.

After the break, Balzan stepped up their effort and in the 51st minute, following a quickly-taken free-kick, Uros Ljubomirac made his way into the area but his shot was again punched away by Fernandes.

Four minutes later, Balzan had the best chance when Eric McWoods outmuscled Anderson Carnerio with the ball falling to the sprinting Paul Fenech, who with only the goalkeeper to beat, saw Fernandes making a fine save.

At the other end, Tarxien came close when Vito Plut found his way into the area from the right and picked Vagner who headed wide from good position.The match suddenly burst to life with both sides having their moments.  

In the 62nd minute, during a fast counter attack by Tarxien, Daren Falzon saw his header finishing just over.

In the 67th minute Balzan broke the stalemate, when Anderson Carneiro pushed Steve Pisani inside the area and from the resultant penalty Weverton Gomes Souza fired the ball into the top corner of the net.

Nine minutes from time, almost double the score when Markos Moustakis connected to a Steve Pisani corner-kick but headed just over.

Few minutes later, Eric McWoods embarked on a surging run but his stinging drive was pushed away by Fernandes as Balzan were off the mark.

TARXIEN : Daniel Marcio Fernandes, Anderson do Nascimento Carneiro (79’ Keith Attard), Brandon Muscat, Darren Falzon, Matthew Spiteri (75’ Ricardo Pires), Vito Plut, Vanger Conceicao da Silva, Eduardo Rosado Souza, Karl Pulo, Matthew Tabone, Miguel Ciantar (64’ Kyle Gatt).  

BALZAN : Sean Mintoff, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab (89’ Steve Bezzina), Paul Fenech, Eric Lemond McWoods, Steven Pisani, Uros Ljubomirac, Suleiman Jalu (76’ Marcus Grima), Markos Ermis Moustakis, Weverton Gomes Souza (89’ Alfred Effiong), Moussa Kamara (74’ Michael Johnson). 

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic

BOV Player of the Match: Tarxien goalkeeper : Daniel Marcio Fernandes