Balzan scored a goal in stoppage time to grab the three points as they defeated Żebbuġ Rangers even though they had to play for about half an hour with ten men.

Balzan made a couple of changes from their last game which they lost against Birkirkara. Goalkeeper Rudy Briffa replaced injured Jonathan Debono while Momcilo Raso replaced the suspended Milos Zlatkovic.

On the other hand, Zebbug R opted for two changes from the team which lost to Gżira U as Gaetano Gesualdi and Stanimir Miloskovic were included in the staring line-up instead of Almir De Jesus Soto Maldonado and Stefan Jankovic.

Balzan went ahead twice with Żebbuġ every time restoring parity. But in the end, it was Balzan who notched the winner to return to winning ways. This win puts Balzan in 7th place on the 20-point mark and on the other hand, Zebbug remain third from bottom.

Żebbuġ could consider themselves unlucky having to leave the pitch empty-handed as they gave a good account of themselves throughout the 90 minutes, defending well and operating with counter attacks.

In the 5th minute Żebbuġ went in search of an early goal as Jeferson Macedo had a low shot saved without difficulty by goalkeeper Rudy Briffa.

Five minutes later, Matheus de Souza received the ball just outside the area and rounded a defender before testing goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi with a powerful shot.

In the 25th minute, Balzan took the lead as, following a cross from the left, MATHEUS NOGUREIRA ALBUGUERQUE DE SOUSA rose high to head the ball home from close range.

In the 33rd minute, From a corner taken by Angel Yesid Torres Quinones, the ball fell to Nikola Braunovic but he failed to find the target.

In the 35th minute, Żebbuġ levelled matters.. Randall Vella delivered a cross from the right and CHARLES LOKOLI NGOY headed home past goalkeeper Rudy Briffa. 

Two minutes into the second half, Balzan regained the lead. ANGEL YESID TORRES QUINONES concluded a good run on the right flank and with a low shot shot from the edge of the area slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi.

In he 52nd minute, Balzan could have added another goal. Following a cross from the right, Marcus Grima was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a shot from inside the area.

In the 64 minute, Balzan suffered a severe setback as they were reduced to ten men after Ivan Bozovic received a straight red for a dangerous foul on Jeferson Macedo.

Zebbug exploited their numerical advantage and started pressing for an equaliser. Their effort gave fruit as in the 67th minute, they manged to level matters. From a corner kick from the right ROBERTO ENRIQUESANCHES managed to beat goalkeeper Rudy Briffa as he failed to hold the ball pushing it into his own net.

Żebbuġ continued pressing for more and in the 74th minute, a diagonal shot by Charles Lokoli Ngoy scraped past the post.

Four minutes later, Zebbug threatened once again with another corner from the right with Jeferson Macedo having a close-range effort blocked by a defender.

However, in stoppage time, Balzan notched the winner. Paul Fenech sent ANGEL YESID TORRES QUINONES through, and after rounding the goalkeeper he placed the ball into an empty net.

BALZAN: Rudy Briffa, Ivan Bozovic, Duvan Diver Torres Quinones, Marcus Grima, Paul Fenech, Angel Yesid Torres Quinones (Suleiman Jalu 46’) (Luca Mallia 80′), Alexander Satriano, Nikola Braunovic, Momcilo Raso, Matheus Nogureira Albuguerque de Souza, Aleksa Andrejic (Bojan Kaljevic 89’).

ZEBBUG R: Jamie Azzopardi, Shaun Bugeja, Leandro Da Silva Almeida, Wilker Rocha Santos (Almir De Jesus Soto Maldonado 46’), Ayrton Mizzi (Stefan Jankovic 59’), Charles Lokoli Ngoy, Roberto Enrique Sanchez, Randall Vella, Jeferson Macedo, Stanimir Miloskovic, Gaetano Joseph Gesualdi.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic

BOV Player of the game : Angel Yesid Torres Quinones (Balzan).