Balzan failed for the third time in the first four games to acquire a win. In the first hour Ħamrun gave a tough ride to Balzan, but were disappointing when they had numerical advantage. Balzan on the other hand should be more satisfied with the final result after playing half an hour with nine men.
The game was characterised by several incidents and yellow cards, as the referee Matthew Degabriele had a tough job to control the game.
Balzan had two changes from their last game against Sliema W as Ryan Fenech and Alex da Paixao Alves were chosen to play instead of Milos Lepovic and Alfred Effiong respectively. On the other hand Ħamrun made three changes as they included Steve Sultana in goal instead of Jake Galea, while Terence Agius and Lydon Micallef started against their own club.
The first action to note came came to Alex da Paixao Alves on the 7th minute when he sent a shot from a distance that finished over the bar.
Ħamrun S responded six minutes later, with a low shot by Francisco Marino Clavero that finished wide.
On the 18th minute, another Alex da Paixao Alves’s effort from distance finished just over the bar.
Two minutes later Ħamrun were unlucky as a shot by Valerio Gomes Dos Santos scraped the post and finished out.
On the 45th minute, Balzan had a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Tiago Indigo Souza de Silveira floored Bojan Kaljevic inside the area. However, from the penalty spot, Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes hit just over the crossbar.
Just before the break Paul Fenech, unleased a dipping shot which goalkeeper Steve Sultana saved with difficulty, turning the ball away for a corner.
The game reduced its rhythm in the second half but had a twist after Balzan had two players sent off. Paul Fenech was sent-off on the 58th minute after receiving his second yellow card. Four minutes later, Bojan Kaljevic was sent-off after passing remarks to the Hamrun Supporters.
Despite having an advantage of two players, Ħamrun weren’t dangerous as they lacked potency up in front. They struggled to make any significant breakthrough as Balzan defended well and in fact Balzan looked to be the team with the numerical advantage instead.
The only shot by Ħamrun came in the 90th minute with a shot from distance by substitute Philip Chircop that was saved without difficulty by goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic.
A minute later, Balzan almost scored the winning goal. In a swift counter-attack, the ball finished in the path of substitute Alfred Effiong who hit from inside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Steve Sultana saved with difficulty turning the ball into a corner.
HAMRUN : Steve Sultana, Karl Micallef, Daniel Zerafa, Lydon Micallef, Tiago Indigo Souza de Silveira (Maurício José Marinho 77′), Guilherme Felipe de Castro, Thiago Espindola de Paula, Terence Agius, Valerio Gomes dos Santos (Philip Chircop 42′), Francisco Manoel Clavero (Dale Camilleri 34′).
BALZAN : Ivan Janjusevic, Steve Bezzina, Paul Fenech, Bojan Kaljevic, Uros Ljubomirac, Ryan Fenech, Justin Grioli (Samir Arab 25′), Michael Johnson, Elkin Serrano Valero, Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes (Alfred Effiong 46′), Alex da Paixao Alves.
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele