Balzan opened their Premier League 2018/2019 campaign on a negative note as they lost their first game against Birkirkara FC 0 – 1.
In a low profile match between two title contenders, a penalty scored by Jake Grech on the 15th minute was enough for Birkirkara.
In the early stages of the game, Balzan looked set to dominate the game but the decisive penalty proved to be a great setback for them as they never really recovered even though they missed a glorious chance just two minutes after suffering Jake Grech’s penalty. Balzan lacked ideas and must surely forget yesterday’s performance in the future.
Birkirkara started on a good note, at least by grabbing the three points at stake. However it is still to early to judge this new look Birkirkara side which still needs time to settle down.
Balzan were the better team in the opening minutes and Carlos Eduardo De Fiori Mendes (Kadu) tested Kristjan Naumovski with a header after a well-orchestrated Balzan match.
On the 14th minute Birkirkara were awarded a penalty for a Justin Grioli tackle on Thiago Esmerindo De Souza De Brito. This was rather harsh decision by the referee. From the penalty spot JAKE GRECH made no mistake.
Two minutes later Balzan missed a sitter when Kadu ran through on the left and passed towards Bojan Kaljevic who did the impossible driving the ball wide from underneath the crossbar, with the goalkeeper already beaten.
Half way through the first half Milos Lepovic had an effort from the edge of the area going well over the bar.
In the 27th minute Uros Ljubomirac dribbled his way on the right and passed to Alfred Effiong whose point blank shot was blocked by Cain Attard.
Just past the half hour Birkirkara went close. Following a corner action an Danilo Augusto Chapoval Azavedo’s header finished out.
The second half started with a Justin Grioli scorcher almost deceiving the Birkirkara custodian.
On 62 minutes Birkirkara goalkeeper made the best save of the game saving Milos Lepovic’s bombshell destined for the top corner of the net.
The rest of the second half dragged on with Balzan in search of the equaliser but with Birkirkara defending well their precious lead till the final whistle.
In stoppage time, tempers flared with an unnecessary free for all which led to the sending off of Balzan substitute Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte.
B’KARA : Kristijan Naumovski, Cain Attard, Eduardo Mancha, Milan Basrak (Terence Agius 65′), Kurt Zammit, Paul Fenech, Thiago Brito de Souza (Edward Herrera 80′), Danilo Augusto Chapoval de Azevedo, Mislav Andjelkovic, Jake Grech (Gianluca Zammit 87′), Carlos Alberto Chavarria Rodríguez.
BALZAN : Steve Sultana, Steve Bezzina (Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte 60′), Justin Grioli, Elkin Serrano Valero, Michael Johnson, Carlos Eduardo de Fiori Mendes, Milos Lepovic, Uros Ljubomirac (Sean Cipriott 79′), Nenad Šljivić, Alfred Effiong, Bojan Kaljevic (Lydon Micallef 72′).