Naxxar Lions stunned Balzan, lifting themselves off from the red zone, and are now on level points with the same Balzan and Valletta – nine points, one behind the three teams in fifth place – Hibs, Mosta and Birkirkara – and one ahead of Gzira who lie in the eleventh place.
For Balzan, this was another shock defeat, following last week’s heavy defeat against Birkirkara. They have now lost four out of the seven matches played so far.
Naxxar started on the right foot and after only two minutes De Carvalho received a good through ball, advanced in the box, and shot at goal but found goalkeeper Danilo Golovic ready to save.
Balzan answered in the 7th minute when a low shot from the left by Jake Grech found goalkeeper Matthias Debono on alert denying him with a superb save.
In the 19th minute, Balzan were unlucky not to open the score. An effort by Leonardo da Silva de Souza, when served by Jake Grech, was denied by the crossbar.
However, against the way of play, Naxxar took the lead in the 35th minute courtesy of MARCILIO WILIAM MOREIRA DA SILVA who headed the ball home following a cross from the left by Takuma Yamaguchi.
Just before half-time, Balzan did manage to equalise when Jake Grech sent another good cross to LEONARDO DA SILVA DE SOUZA on the left whose low shot hit the upright and the goalkeeper before finishing into the net.
Balzan opened the second half on the attack when, in the 47th minute, Paul Fenech tried his luck from a distance but the ball flies just over the crossbar.
In the 58th minute, Danilo Golovic saved an attempt from an acute angle by Marcilo Wiliam Moreira da Silva.
On the hour Balzan had a golden opportunity to go ahead when Leonardo da Silva de Souza was fouled in the area by Neil Pace Cocks. However, the same player failed to convert from the penalty spot as goalkeeper Matthias Debono neutralised his shot.
This chance came back to haunt Balzan as, in the 65th minute, Edson Cerqueira Farias released Pablo Augusto on the left, and off the latter’s cross MARCILIO WILIAM MOREIRA DA SILVA scored the winning goal for Naxxar..
After this goal, Balzan put everything in front with the hope of getting something from this game. However, Naxxar defended well and finished collecting the three important points.
Balzan: Danilo Golovic, Ivan Bozovic, Andre Fausto Prates, Samir Arab (Benjamin Hili 82’), Paul Fenech (Marcus Grima 89’), Jake Grech, Ryohei Michibuchi, Aleksandar Katanic, Nikola Zerjal (Aleksa Andrejic 46’), Momcilo Raso, Leonardo da Silva de Souza (Oliwtobiloba Dimeji Awosanya 67’)
Naxxar Lions: Matthias Debono, Nikolai Micllef, Fernando Barbosa Pereira, Neil Pace Cocks (Darren Falzon 83’), Pablo Augusto Servo De Carvalho, Edson Cerquera Farias, Ryan Gilmor Cassar, Takuma Yamaguchi (Maicon De Soua da Silva 33’), Elizeu Espirito Santo Da Conceicao, Marcilo Wiliam Moreira da Silva (Mark Fenech 87’), Joao Vitor Moura Cardoso.
Referee: Daniel Portelli
BOV Player of the game: Marcilo Wiliam Moreira da Silva (Naxxar Lions)