With this third consecutive win, Balzan leapfrogged Gudja United and Floriana to join Mosta in fifth place with 26 points. Balzan established themselves to chase the possibility of qualifying to play in the Europa Conference League.

Balzan were the best team on the pitch playing attractive football, especially in the first half. On the other hand, Gudja were tense on the ball and lacked their usual composure as they chased for an equaliser.

Balzan showed their intensions as from the beginning with a central shot by Aleksa Andrejic in the 4th minute.

In the 9th minute, Alexander Satariano tried his first attempt from inside the box but goalkeeper Glenn Zammit denied him.

Three minutes later, from a freekick by Aleksa Andrejic, Matheus de Souza headed towards the goal but Glenn Zammit was again there to block his effort.

Balzan looked confident with Angel Yesid Torres Quinones, Paul Fenech and Marcus Grima superbly passing the ball through midfield.

In the 20th minute, Alexander Satariano latched onto an assist by Angel Torres, and made his way into Gudja’s penalty area but his effort was blocked by Glenn Zammit legs.

A few minutes later, Nikola Zerjal whipped in a cross for Matheus de Souza but this time his header lacked the power to trouble Glenn Zammit.

In the 28th minute, A corner kick taken by Shaisen Attard caused panic in the Balzan defence inside the box. The ball travelled to the far post, but Andrè Prates could only shot wide from point-blank range.

Balzan took the lead in the 31st minute, when Alexander Satariano dribbled his way into the area past Matias Muchardi, flicked the ball into the path of MATHEUS NOGUEIRA ALBUGUERQUE DE SOUZA who fired a low shot into an empty net.

In the 43rd minute, Balzan had to make a forced substitute as Nikola Zerjal had to leave the pitch badly injured and was replaced by Diver Duvan Torres Quinones.

In the second half, Balzan continued administering the match in midfield and decided to defend the result.

In the 59th minute introduced Tatsuro Nagamatsu’s to add extra force to their attack.

He immediately was in action when, in the 65th minute, following a cross by Nicolas Navarrete, his half volley drew Balzan goalkeeper Rudy Briffa into action.

In the 69th minute Aleksa Andrejic dribbled past Neil Tabone and sent a cross from the right, but the attempt from Marcus Grima did not trouble Glenn Zammit.

Although, Balzan endured some nervy moments, with Nicolas Navarrete proving a real threat to the Balzan defence, they managed to threaten again in the 75th minute but Angel Torres’s in-swinger was pushed away by Glenn Zammit.

Gudja pushed everything forward for an equaliser, creating several half-chances but despite the introduction of Tatsuro Nagamatsu, they lacked penetration.

GUDJA UNITED: Glenn Zammit, Juan Bolanos Ramires, Andre’ Prates, Vito Plut, Shaisen Attard (Tatsuro Nagamatsu 60’), James Arthur, Karl Micallef, Hubert Vella, Neil Tabone, Roberto Mathias Muchardi, Nicolas Navarette.

BALZAN : Rudy Briffa, Ivan Bozovic, Samir Arab (Bogdan Mladenovic 84’), Marcus Grima, Paul Fenech, Angel Yesid Torres Quinones, Nikola Zerjal (Diver Duvan Torres Quinones 43’), Alexander Satariano (Adam Bradshaw 70’), Momcilo Raso, Matheus Nogueira Alblguerque De Souza (Bojan Kaljevic 70’), Aleksa Andrejic.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

BOV player of the match: Matheus Nogueira Albuguerque de Souza (Balzan)