Balzan continues to disappoint as they have now gone five matches without a win. On the other hand, Senglea managed to earn a point after suffering six defeats.
Senglea seemed to carry more scoring potential than Balzan. They played direct football with fast breaks by the striking tandem of Wilkerson Gomes and Junior Diwoto Dibola
Balzan struggled to find some sort of rhythm even if they managed to score from a penalty 17 minutes from time. But to their credit, Senglea refused to concede defeat and equalized through a controversially taken penalty.
The first attempt came to Senglea when Wilkerson Gomes came one-on-one with goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes but his effort was weak and straight at the goalkeeper’s hands.
In the 11th minute, Balzan reacted when Uros Ljubomirac’s effort was blocked by Senglea’s defender André Scicluna while goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia stood up bravely to block Steven Pisani’s shot from the rebound.
In the 25th minute, Balzan’s defender Michael Johnson had to leave the pitch injured. He was replaced by midfielder Sean Cipriott and Moussa Kamara had to drop to the back four.
On the stroke of half-time, Diwoto Dibola dribbled past Augustine Loof but his shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes.
Soon after the break, Jan Tanti served a square ball to Wilkerson Gomes but the latter’s effort was blocked by defender Steven Bezzina.
On the stroke of the hour, Balzan wasted a very good chance, when following a cross by Augustine Loof, Eric McWoods and Stefan Dimic got in each other’s way and they failed to finish.
But in the 73rd minute, against the run of play, Balzan stunned Senglea, when Stefan Dimic dribbled past two central defenders, with Andre’ Scicluna bringing him down in the area. From the penalty spot, ERIC Mc WOODS did not fail to transform.
In the 85th minute, it was Senglea’s turn to be awarded a penalty after Samir Arab, under pressure from Jan Tanti, was adjudged to handle the ball in the area.
Diwota Dibola took the penalty but his feeble shot was pushed away by Vukasin Vranes, with Dibola taking the rebound but Vukasin Vranes saved his shot again. However, referee Andrea Sciriha ordered a re-take, bringing strong protests from Balzan players.
In the 87th minute, DIWOTA DIBOLA leveled matters when he went again on the spot but this time, he did not fail to deliver past Vukasin Vranes.
BALZAN: Vukasin Vranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab, Paul Fenech, Eric Lemond McWoods, Steve Pisani, Steve Bezzina (68’ Alfred Effiong), Michael Johnson (27’ Sean Cipriott), Uros Ljubomirac, Stefan Dimic, Moussa Kamara.
SENGLEA: Matthew Farrugia, Zachary Cassar, Alan Abela, Kevaughn Atkinson (58’ Ricardo Martin), Igor Misan, Jan Tanti (93’ Nikola Terzin), Andre Scicluna, Junior Dibola Diwoto, Dejan Kukic, David Xuereb, Wilkerson Gomes.
Referee: Andrea Sciriha
BOV Player of the Match: Stefan Dimic