Saturday 08th April 2017: Balzan suffered a second defeat in a week to fall third with Birkirkara claiming a third consecutive win to move to just three points behind Balzan.

Balzan had four changes from the team which defeated Gzira U as Christian Cassar, Paul Fenech, Abdelkarim Nafti, Lydon Micallef were replaced Ivan Janjusevic, Anderson de Barros, Alan da Silva Souza and Bojan Kaljevic. Birkirkara, on the other hand, welcomed back Nikola Vukanac along with Edward Herrera and Joseph Zerafa who replaced Predrag Jovic, Miguel Angel Alba and James Brincat.

The first chance of the match came on the 15th minute to Birkirkara when Cain Attard sent a cross towards Gonzalo Malan but his header finished high.

Balzan responded on the 24th minute when Ryan Fenech saw his shot from a direct free-kick finishing slightly wide.

On the 29th minute, a low shot from a free kick taken by Srdan Dimitrov hit was parried by the Balzan goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic.

Balzan had another chance when , on the 34th minute alan Da Silva Souza served Matteo Piciollo, with a back-heel, but his effort was blocked into a corner.

Birkirkara took the lead on the 36th minute when SRDAN DIMITROV received the ball inside the box and hit a curling shot that gave Ivan Janjusevic no chance.

Balzan responded on the 43rd minute and had an excellent chance equalise. Bojan Kaljevic made his way inside the area and served Alfred Effiong whose effort finished off target.

In the second half, Birkirkara came out better and on the 50th minute Joseph Zerafa tried his luck but his shot missed the target.

Balzan responded three minutes later when Ryan Fenech’s low shot ended missing the goal by few centimetres.

Birkirkara had a good chance to double the score when on the 55th minute Gonzalo Malan’s shot from a distance was saved with difficulty by Ivan Janjusevic.

However Balzan equalized a minute later when, from close range, BOJAN KALJEVIC finished the ball home following a cross by Anderson De Barros.

Birkirkara regained the lead on the 64th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Srdjan Dimitrov was brought down inside the area by Elkin Serrano and from the penalty spot, GONZALO MALAN made no mistake.
Balzan tried to react and probed for an equaliser although they remained disjointed in their build-ups. They lost a golden opportunity to equalise when on the 69th minute substitute Lydon Micallef sent a through ball towards Kaljevic who finished incredibly wide from an ideal position.

In the 80th minutes Birkirkara goakeeper Henry Bonello made a superb save off a Bojan Kaljevic effort.

Birkirkara responded immediately and sealed the issue with a third goal on the 83rd minute. Edward Herrera sent a through pass that beat the Balzan offside trap for substitute VITO PLUT, who  in turn slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic.