Balzan moved temporarily on top the BOV Premier League table as they registered a third consecutive win, defeating Mosta 3-1, though they can be overtaken by Gzira U or Hamrun S who have a match in hand.

Balzan vs Mosta highlights

Highlights of Balzan's very hard fought 3-1 win over Mosta that kept us in touch with the leading group at the top of the Maltese Premier League….#ForzaBalzan

Posted by Balzan F.C. on Saturday, September 22, 2018

From last game against Senglea A, Sean Mintoff and Dale Camilleri were replaced by Steve Sultana and Uros Ljubomirac in the starting line-up for Balzan. On the other hand, Mosta, replaced James Brincat with Dexter Xuereb.

After a rather balanced first half with Balzan holding the edge, the latter imposed more authority on the match.

The match started brightly with both teams searching for an early lead.

However on the 13th minute Balzan broke the deadlock when ALEX DA PAIXAO ALVES (Lecao) fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area with the ball hitting bounced back into play. However, the referee judged the ball to have crossed the line and signalled for a goal

Balzan’s joy was short-lived as Mosta reacted immediately and after only 3 minutes they managed to equalise. Off a free kick from the left flank, causing confusion in the Balzan defence, in came TYRONE FARRUGIA whose shot hit the back of the net.

On the 24th minute, Balzan goalkeeper Steve Sultana then gave away a free-kick inside the area after he collected Nenad Sljivic’s back-pass but Alessio de Cerchio’s shot was deflected into a corner by Ivan Bozovic, with Mosta protesting for an alleged hand ball by the Balzan defender.

Mosta kept on dictating matters and in the 25th minute Steven Sultana saved a shot by Miranda Gomez shot without difficulty.

Balzan were now coming more into the picture and in the 33rd minute, following a cross by Ivan Bozovic, Alfred Effiong headed inches over the cross bar.

Two minutes later Balzan regained the lead. Andrija Majdevac received a through pass and made his way on the right dribbling past a couple of defenders before serving the unmarked ALEX DA PAIXAO ALVES who from close range placed the ball in the net behind goalkeeper Andreas Vella.

In the second half Mosta did their best to get things even but found Balzan ready to block their effort.

In the 50th minute, Balzan sealed the issue. UROS LJUBOMIRAC got on the end of corner taken by Milos Lepovic and managed to curl his shot past Mosta custodian Andreas Vella.

Andrija Majdevac might have increased the score past the hour mark. Romeu Romao erroneously passed the ball backwards and it found its way to the left flank where the Majedvac cut inside but was blocked by goalkeeper Andreas Vella.

Balzan kept piling on the pressure and in the 63rd minute a Lepovic shot just missed the target.

Balzan were the better outfit till the end though they never conculed.

BALZAN : Steve Sultana, Nenad Sljivic (Siraj Arab Eddin 79’), Alex da Paixao Alves, Steve Bezzina, Michael Johnson, Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic (Justin Grioli 75’), Elkin Serrano Valero, Andrija Majdevac (Sean Cipriott 68’), Milos Lepovic.

MOSTA : Andreas Vella, Alessio De Cerchio, Kei Hirose, Renan Abner do Carmo Oliveira, Massimo Sammartino, Dexter Xuereb (Zachary Brincat 53’), Misael Miranda Gomez (Jurgen Grech 73’), Tyrone Farrugia, Steve Bonnici, Juri Cisotti (Kurt Zammit 66’), Romeu Pericles Romao.

BOV Player of the Match: Alex da Paixao Alves