After losing five important points, following the loss to Senglea Athletic and a draw with Mosta, Balzan added three further points to their tally thanks to an easy 3 – 0 win over struggling Pieta Hotspurs.

This first win since the appointment of Jacques Scerri as their new coach puts Balzan back on track in the battle for a place in the UEFA Europa League.

Balzan were the better team throughout the game, enjoying possession for over 80% of the time. Pieta lacked punch up front and were forced to defend for most of the time, with the intention to try and keep Balzan at bay. They failed to test Balzan goalkeeper Sean Mintoff throughout the whole match.

The first action arrived in the 12^th minute when Steve Pisani noticed Pieta goalie Nicholas Vella out of position, but his effort went hopelessly wide.

In the 17^th minute Balzan went close when, off a free-kick taken by Steve Pisani from the left, Ivan Bozovic hit the upright.

In the 28^th minute, from another Pisani free-kick, Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero headed the badly from an ideal position, with the ball finishing well wide.

On the half hour, following a free-kick taken by Ricardo Correa, a header by Andrija Majdevac was flicked into the net by Elkin Serrano Valero but the goal was disallowed as the latter was ruled offside.

Balzan took the lead in the 35^th minute. Pieta’s Stefan Radovanovic chested the ball down but failed to control it just inside the area with the ball falling straight into the path of ANDRIJA MAJDEVA who had no difficulty in finishing the ball past helpless goalkeeper Nicholas George Vella.

Three minutes later, Balzan threatened again when a goal-bound first timer by Milos Lepovic was blocked by a Pieta defender.

The second half started with a perfect pass by Ricardo Correa for Milos Lepovic, but the latter’s shot finished wide.

In the 56^th minute, Balzan insisted on the attack, Ricardo Correa missed a good cross by Ivan Bozovic in front of goal and goalkeeper Vella saved easily.

Balzan scored their second goal in the 61^st minute when following a cross by Uros Ljubomirac, Milos Lepovic saw his shot partially saved by goalkeeper Vella, but RICARDO CALIXTO CORREA DUARTE was there to hit home the rebound.

Balzan remained in control and on the 68^th minute, Steve Pisani, from five metres, missed a sitter hitting over the bar.

In the 75^th minute, Ivan Bozovic saw his shot finishing just wide.

But in the 77^th minute, Balzan sealed the issue, making it 3 – 0. Steven Pisani set substitute ALFRED EFFIONG in the area who from an acute angle managed to beat goalkeeper Vella.

In the 87^th minute, Steve Pisani was unlucky with a shot that hit the crossbar, after receiving a good pass from Alfred Effiong.

Just before the final whistle, Alfred Effiong came face to face with goalkeeper Vella, but his effort finished just wide.

PIETÀ HOTSPURS : Nicky Vella, Travis Bartolo (Samuel Okoh 79’), Neil Pace Cocks (Gegi Kekua 61’), Dylan Agius, Jan Busuttil, Nicholas Pisani, Gabriel Mensah (James Scicluna 80’), Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa, Stefan Radovanovic, Uchenna Calistus Umeh, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo.

BALZAN : Sean Mintoff, Nenad Sljivic, Steve Pisani, Steve Bezzina, Paul Fenech, Uros Ljubomirac (Justin Grioli 79’), Ivan Bozovic, Elkin Serrano Valero, Ricardo Calixto Correa, Andrija Majdevac (Alfred Effiong 70’), Milos Lepovic (Sean Cipriott 67’).

Referee: Alex Johnson

BOV Player of the Match: Ricardo Calixto Correa