This win against Floriana was Balzan’s seventh one in their last eight matches. With this win they, maintain their hope for a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League as they re-join Hibernians in fourth place, just a point behind third placed Birkirkara and three behind second-placed Gżira United.
In their starting line-up Balzan made a couple of changes from their last match against Sirens, as Momcilo Raso who was suspended for one match and Alexander Satariano were replaced by Ivan Bozovic and Bojan Kaljevic. On the other hand, Floriana made no less than five changes, from the team which drew against Gżira United, with Duncan Formosa starting as their goalkeeper while Jan Busuttil, Matias Nicolas Garcia, Aleandro Garzia and Lorenzo De Grazia all returned to the starting line-up.
Balzan couldn’t have a perfect start as they took the lead after only 18 seconds. ALEKSA ANDREJIC received an assist from Paul Fenech and from a distance he managed to beat goalkeeper Duncan Formosa with a perfect lob.
In the 8th minute, Bojan Kaljevic tried his luck but his effort finished high.
In the 23rd minute, Balzan doubled the score. Aleksa Andrejic delivered a cross from the left and BOJAN KALJEVIC headed the ball home over the goalkeeper reach.
In the 3rd minute, Floriana replied with a freekick by Jose Ulises Arias from the left which just missed the target with Oualid El Hasni failing to connect.
In the 39th minute Balzan made it 3-0. Bojan Kaljevic provided an assist from the right and, from close range, ANGEL YESID TORRES QUINONES slotted the ball past goalkeeper Duncan Formosa.
Just before the end of the first half, Matheus de Souza served Aleksa Andrejic from the left but the latter’s effort was blocked by Formosa, onto the crossbar, before being cleared into safety.
After the break, Floriana replaced Jose Ulises Arias and Lorenzo De Garcia with Mattia Veselji and Owen Spiteri and in the 55th minute Lorenzo Trillo replaced Aleandro Garcia.
In the 58th minute, the substitute LORENZO TRILLO reduced the gap for Floriana with an angled shot from the left following a cross by Adam Magri Overend which was deflected by Kemar Reid.
Floriana insisted and in the 69th minute Balzan goalkeeper Jonathan Debono blocked with some difficulty a corner from the left taken by Jose Ulises Arias.
However, in the 86th minute, Floriana were reduced to ten men as Emiliano Callegari was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity when he fouled Alexander Satariano as he was about to enter the area.
The score remained the 3-1 till the end with Balzan gathering the three important points.
BALZAN : Jonathan Debono, Ivan Bozovic, Samir Arab, Marcus Grima (Delvin Chanel Nginga 62’), Paul Fenech, Angel Yesid Torres Quinones (Bejamin Hili 90’), Nikola Zerjal, Nikola Braunovic, Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque de Souza (Bogdan Mladenovic 73’), Aleksa Andrejic, Bojan Kaljevic (Alexander Satariano 62’).
FLORIANA: Duncan Formosa, Adam Magri Overend, Oualdi El Hasni, Kemar Reid, Jose Ulises Arias, Matias Nicolas Garcia, Loreno De Grazia (Owen Spiteri 46’), Emiliano Callegari, Jan Busuttil, Sindre Osestad (Mattia Veselji 46’), Aleandro Garzia (Lorenzo Trillo 55’).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
BOV Player of the Match: Aleksa Andrejic (Balzan).