After Birkirkara won the FA Trophy, Balzan and Hibernians were forced to play a decider to decide which team will finish in fourth place and take the final spot in UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
Balzan won this entertaining decider against Hibernians and found themselves back in European football after a four-year absence.
Balzan was the better team on the day, playing the better football and having the better scoring opportunities.
The first half was rather disappointing with very few scoring opportunities which were all in favour of Balzan, who had some efforts slightly missing the target. Balzan forwards Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque De Souza, Alexander Satariano and Angel Yesid Torres Quinones were keeping the Hibernians defence continuously in apprehension.
In the 11th minute, Alexander Satariano pounced on a poor touch from Ali Diakite and hit a strong cross-shot across but, to the relief of goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone, there was nobody to connect.
Scoring chances remained few and far between with Balzan holding much of the initiative with Hibernians trying to operate with quick counter attacks.
In the 24th minute, a direct free-kick by Angel Torres finished just high.
On the half hour, the next chance fell to Alex Satariano who picked up a short clearance but his volley flashed wide.
In the 36th minute, Balzan created the best chance which started from just outside their area, Paul Fenech released Angel Torres who made space just outside the area but his shot finished inches wide.
In the stoppage time, Balzan’s efforts were finally rewarded. From a corner kick taken by Aleksa Andreijic, Momcilo Raso headed the ball into the path of MATHEUS NOGUREIRA ALBUGEURQUE de SOUSA who had little difficulty in heading the ball past goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone.
In the 8th minute of the second half, Hibernians, in a bid to increase their attacking power, made a double change as Gonzalo Llerena Bravo and Zachary Grech made way for Dunstan Vella and Thaylor Aldama.
In the 56th minute, Balzan almost made it 2-0 when Delvin Chanel Ndinga served Angel Torres who turned past his marker and opted to shoot with his effort saved by Ibrahim Kone.
On the hour, Paul Fenech tried his luck with a shot from a distance but failed to find the target.
In the 65th minute, Balzan continued to threaten when Alexander Satariano dashed into the area but shot the ball into the side netting.
However a minute later Hibernians, against the way of play, managed to equalise. Substitute Aldama Thaylor made space for himself on the right and his cross was finished home by the unmarked other substitute DUNSTAN VELLA.
In the 74th minute, Balzan had another good chance to regain the lead. Substitute Bojan Kaljevic was brought down inside the area by goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone with the referee pointing to the spot. The penalty was taken by Bojan Kaljevic himself but his shot was pushed away by Kone, with the rebound being cleared by a defender to corner.
Three minutes later, Balzan protested heavily for another penalty when Angel Torres dispossessed Andrei Agius and sped inside the area before going down following a challenge by Agius but the referee waved play on.
Angel Torres continued to torment Hibernians as a minute later he dribbled past three defenders but was anticipated by the onrushing goalkeeper.
Hibernians had a great chance to go in front when Florencio Joao Vitor de Oliveira dribbled his way inside the area and served unmarked Jurgen Degabriele who, however, fired over.
However, in the 88th minute, it was ANGEL YESID TORRES QUINONES who produced the winning run when he dribbled past two defenders and beat Ibrahim Kone with an great acute angled shot.
Balzan’s joy was short-lived as in the 90th minute, a cross shot by Jake Grech was nodded by Ferdinando Apap into the path of JURGEN DEGABRIELE who anticipated the onrushing goalkeeper Rudy Briffa and finished the ball home, sending the game into extra-time.
In the extra time goals kept coming with Balzan going back in front in their first attack.
In the 1st minute of extra time, substitute BOGDAN MLADENOVIC made his way into the area from the left and hit a low drive that came off the upright before finishing home what had to be the winning goal.
In the 97th minute, Hibernians protested for a penalty when a pass by Jurgen Degabriele looked to have hit the arm of Ivan Bozovic but the referee waved play on.
From the resultant corner, taken by Gabriel Artiles, goalkeeper Rudy Briffa made a fine one-handed save to deny Ferdinando Apap from heading in.
In the 100th minute, things got worse for Hibernians when Kurt Shaw was shown a straight red card, when he fouled the goal-bound Angel Torres on the edge of the area, and had to continue the match with ten men.
In the 106th minute, Bogdan Mladenovic came close again but this time his shot from the edge of the area finished just wide.
HIBERNIANS: Ibrahim Kone, Ferdinando Apap, Kurt Shaw, Gonzalo Llerena Bravo (Dunstan Vella 5′), Jake Grech, Jurgen Degabriele, Zachary Grech (Thaylor Aldama 54′), Joao Vitor de Oliveira Florencio, Andrei Agius, Gabriel Artilles, Ali Diakite (Yanusa Oaolabi Muritala 90′)
BALZAN: Rudy Briffa, Ivan Bozovic, Samir Arab, Paul Fenech, Angel Yesid Torres Quinones, Delvin Chanel Ndinga (Marcus Grima 120′), Alexander Satariano, Nikola Braunovic, Momcilo Raso, Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque De Souza (Bogdan Mladenovic 92′) (Benjamin Hili 120’), Aleksa Andrejic (Bojan Kaljevic 70′)
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
BOV Player of the game : Angel Yesid Torres Quinones (Balzan)
