A goal four minutes from time by substitute Kevin Tulimieri handed Birkirkara three precious points as they defeated Balzan 2-1.
Balzan played with an unchanged starting line-up following the win over Gżira United.
On the other hand, three players were back in the starting line-up for Birkirkara. Enrico Pepe and Alessandro Coppola were back after serving a one-match ban while Giacomo Nava replaced Amara Sylla in goal.
Although the Stripes took an early lead, Balzan equalised before half-time and during the second half, the two teams shared the exchanges. But in the end, Birkirkara regained the lead to take home the three points. Birkirkara temporarily move second, one point ahead of Hibernians, who, however have a game in hand. Balzan, on the other hand, remain in the eighth place on 17 points.
In the 12th minute, Birkirkara took the lead. Alex da Paixao Alves (Lecao) delivered a corner from the left and OSVALDO IORIO headed the ball home from close range.
Five minutes later, Balzan went close following an assist from the left by Aleksa Andrejic, Angel Yesid Torres Quinones’s attempt was blocked into a corner.
In the 39th minute, Birkirkara threatened again. Lecao released Enzo Daniel Cabrera inside the area and the latter rounded Diver Duvan Torres Quinones but his low shot was blocked into a corner by goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.
1 minute into the added time of the first half, Balzan levelled matters. Following a cross from the right by Alexander Satariano, Paul Fenech served Aleksa Andrejic whose fierce shot was blocked by goalkeeper Giacomo Nava but from the rebound MATHEUS NOGUREIRA ABULGUERQUE DE SOUZA, headed home from close range.
In the 56th minute, following an inviting cross by Ivan Bozovic from the right, goalkeeper Giacomo Nava came to the rescue blocking at point blank an Alexander Satariano effort.
Three minutes later, a cross shot by Lecao was not held by goalkeeper Jonathan Debono but Denis Custodio Ribeiro headed high from close range.
In the 86th minute, Birkirkara regained the lead. After only five minutes on the pitch, substitute KEVIN TULIMIERI pounced on a through pass and despite being challenged by Diver Duvan Torres Quinones, he managed to beat Jonathan Debono with a shot in the bottom right corner.
2 minutes later, Balzan replied with a powerful drive by Paul Fenech which was, however, saved by Giacomo Nava.
Four minutes from time, Balzan were reduced to ten men after Samir Arab was sent off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity after bring down Yannick Yankam just outside the area after beating Momcilo Raso on the run.
From the resulting freekick, Alessandro Coppola’s effort was partially saved by Jonathan Debono with the ball cleared into safety by a defender.
BIRKIRKARA: Giacomo Nava, Osvaldo Iorio (Kevin Tulimieri 80’), Enrico Pepe, Alex Da Paixo Alves (Jean Paul Farrugia 85’), Yannick Yankam, Kurt Zammit, Cain Attard, Enzo Daniel Cabrera (Paul Mbong 80’), Simon Zibo, Alessandro Coppola, Denis Custodio Ribeiro (Diego Pires Dall’Oca 61’),
BALZAN: Jonathan Debono, Ivan Bozovic, Diver Duvan Torres Quinone (Leonardo Agius 89’), Marcus Grima (Adam Bradshaw 84’), Paul Fenech, Angel Yesid Torres Quinones, Milos Zlatkovic, Alexander Satariano (Samir Arab 68’), Nikola Braunovic (Momcilo Raso 68’), Matheus Nogureira Abulguerque de Sousa, Aleksa Andrejic (Bojan Kaljevic 77’),
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
BOV plejer of the game : Alex da Paixao Alves (Birkirkara)