Balzan and Valletta came out in search of three valuable points since they both had a rather bumpy start to this campaign. Both on 3 points with a win, a draw and a defeat in their first three games.

Valletta offered the best football and deserved to take home the three points as they created the better chances, hardly allowing their opponents to shoot at goal.

Balzan preferred Nenad Sljivic and Ryan Scicluna in the starting line-up to Michael Johnson and Luke Montebello with both being among the substitutes. On the other hand, Valletta made three changes from their last game against Floriana as Ryan Camilleri, Matteo Piciollo and Yuri Messias were replaced with Jean Borg, Shaun Dimech and Bojan Kaljevic.

The Citizens held the initiative right from the start and on the 9^th minute an Irakli Dzaria effort from outside the area ended wide.

Three minutes later a corer taken by Ricardo Correa Duarte corner was met by a headed effort from Nenad Sljivic but his conclusion ended well over the bar.

In the 22^nd minute, following a cross by Mario Fontanella, a header by Shaun Dimech was parried by goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.

Valletta took the lead in the 27^th minute when off an assist by Mario Fontanella from the right, BOJAN KALJEVIC slammed the ball home past goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.

Valletta kept on insisting and had a chance to add another goal in the 39^th minute. Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre sent a low cross that found Kevin Tullimieri whose shot hit the side netting.

In the 42^nd minute Henry Bonello made his first save when he turned onto a corner a Ricardo Correa Duarte effort from close range.

Balzan could have equalised four minutes into the second half when from a cross by Ivan Bozovic from the right, a header by Alfred Effiong just missed the target.

In the 64^th minute, a good solo run by Paul Fenech tried his luck with a lob which ended over the bar.

Valletta were dominant in the midfield area and were rarely giving away possession. In the 74^th minute a shot by substitute Nicholas Pulis shot from outside the area was turned onto a corner by Kristijan Naumovski.

Following the resulting corner Valletta doubled the score. The corner was taken by Nicholas Pulis by and,  in an attempt to clear into safety, Ivan Bozovic headed the ball which fell to IRAKLI DZARIA who chested the ball down before hitting past Kristijan Naumovski.

Balzan failed to react and Valletta threatened once again in the remaining minutes.

In the 80^th minute, after receiving a good pass by Nicholas Pulis, an effort by Bojan Kaljevic was turned into a corner by Kristijan Naumovski,

Six minutes later, Shaun Dimech tried his luck with an angled shot from the left which was neutralised by the Kristijan Naumovski.

BALZAN : Kristijan Naumovski, Aleksandar Kosoric, Nenad Sljivic, Steve Bezzina (Lydon Micallef 74’), Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Ryan Scicluna (Marcus Grima 73’), Ricardo Correa, Arthur Faria Machado (Luke Montebello 57’).

VALLETTA : Henry Bonello, Steve Borg, Bojan Kaljevic (Kyrian Nwoko 82’), Shaun Dimech, Jean Borg, Enmy Pena Beltre, Joseph Zerafa, Rowen Muscat (Yuri de Jesus Messias 78’), Irakli Dzaria, Mario Fontanella, Kevin Tulimieri (Nicholas Pulis 69’).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann