During the game Balzan appeared to be better organized in midfield with numerable passes served to their teammates by Ryan Fenech, Paul Fenech and Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes (Cadu). On the other hand Andrew Cohen and Roderick Briffa worked hard to set Amadou Samb but the Balzan defence was well organised.

The result seemed to have been established early in the second half with two goals scored for each side in the space of two minutes. Bojan Kaljevic opened the score for Balzan, but immediately afterwards Ndubisi Emmanuel Okoye equalised for Gzira. When it appeared that the game was going to finish in a draw, in the dying minutes of the game Balzan were awarded a penalty which Bojan Kaljevic converted.

In a well balanced first half both teams had their good number of chances, but no goals were registered.

Gzira had the first opportunity in the 8th minute, when off an Andrew Cohen’s cross, Amadou Samb headed head wide over the upright.

Balzan reacted and in the 15th minute Uros Ljubomirac made his way on the right and served Bojan Kaljevic whose effort slammed the bar before the Gzira defence cleared to a corner.

Two minutes later it was Andrew Cohen who tested Ivan Janjusevic, but the Balzan goalkeeper punched the ball away.

In the 24th minute Gzira missed a good opportunity when Juan Corbolan hit wide from a good position.

A minute later Balzan responded with Uros Ljubomirac’s shot finishing just wide.

On the half hour Steve Bezzina blocked an effort by Juan Corbalan which finished into a corner.

In the 37th minute, Alfred Effiong came in to replace injured Alex da Paixao Alves.

In the first minute of the second half, Ryan Fenech exchanged the ball with Cadu, with the former hitting high over the bar after receiving a return pass.

In the 48th minute Gzira responded with Roderick Briffa testing Ivan Janjusevic, but he cleared the ball with the aid of the upright.

However Balzan took the lead in the 51st minute. Cadu set Alfred Effiong in the Gzira area. From the latter’s low cross, BOJAN KALJEVIC hit home past goalkeeper Anthony Curmi, from close range.

Gzira reacted and two minutes later they levelled matters. Roderick Briffa made his way into the Balzan area and served NDUBISI EMMANUEL OKOYE who in turn headed home past Ivan Janjusevic.
In the 66th minute, Cadu presented another good opportunity for Alfred Effiong but, with the goalkeeper beaten, Effiong just missed the target.

In the 75th minute, Gzira suffered a severe setback when they were reduced to ten men, as defender Souleymane Diamoutene was shown a second yellow card for flooring the goal bound Bojan Kaljevic just outside the area.
Using their numerical superiority, Balzan increased their effort and for this they were rewarded.
In the 89th minute, substitute Karl Pulo handled the ball in a melee that ensued inside the penalty area. The referee signalled a penalty and to the delight of the Balzan supporters, from the spot-kick, BOJAN KALJEVIC made no mistake to give Balzan a dramatic win
GZIRA UTD: Anthony Curmi, Gary Muir, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Souleymane Diamoutene, Sacha Borg (Karl Pulo 46′), Moises Avila Perez, Roderick Briffa, Andrew Cohen, Juan Carlos Corbalan (Zack Scerri 70′), Ndubisi Emmanuel Okoye, Amadou Samb.

BALZAN : Ivan Janjusevic, Steve Bezzina, Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, Alex da Paixao Alves (Alfred Effiong 36′), Uros Ljubomirac, Ryan Fenech (Jamie Zerafa85′), Bojan Kaljevic, Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Paul Fenech, Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes, Samir Arab (Justin Grioli 92′).

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Best Player : Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes