Balzan notched the equaliser in stoppage time stopping Gudja United from obtaining their first win as the two teams had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
On a windy day, at the Centenary Stadium, Balzan started the game with the wind in their favour, having several chances with Gudja goalkeeper Justin Spiteri being the protagonist saving all the attempts coming to him.
In the 8th minute, Leonardo da Silva had the first attempt of the game saved by the Gudja goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Justin Spiteri saved with difficult a direct freekick taken by the same Leonardo da Silva.
In the 19th minute, Gudja had their first attempt through a freekick taken by Matias Muchardi which finished wide.
Just before the break, Marcus Grima found Justin Spiteri in very good form to save well his attempt, from close range.
The first half ended with the two teams entering the dressing rooms without breaking the deadlock.
In the second half, with the wind in their favour, Gudja came out in search for a goal and they succeeded as, in their first attack, the were awarded a penalty since Nikola Zerjal fouled Neil Tabone in the area. From the penalty spot ABOU TOURE did not fail to convert.
Balzan reacted and in the 51st minute, Peter Olawale advanced well into the box but found Justin Spiteri their to block his effort.
In the 56th minute, Balzan replaced Peter Olawale and Nikola Braunovic with Paul Fenech and Oluwatobiloba Dimeji Awosana.
The best player of the game Justin Spiteri was again the protagonist saving another attempt, this time by Aleksa Andrejic.
In the 68th minute, in a bid to level matters, Balzan made three substitutions where Jake Grech, Samir Arab and Aleksandar Katanic were preferred to Nikola Zerjal, Aleksa Andrejic and Ryohei Michibuchi.
Jake Grech finished to be the hero as in the 71st minute, a shot by Leonardo da Silva was partially saved by goalkeeper Justin Spiteri, with the rebound falling to JAKE GRECH who, from an acute angle, finished the ball into the net.
Gudja was not impressed with this goal as in the 78th minute the restored the lead when unmarked MATTIAS MUCHARDI received a pass from Abou Toure and immediately fired a shot from outside the box which finished home past helpless goalkeeper Rudy Briffa.
However in the 86th minute, there was the second penalty when Gudja defender Dos Santos Brenner Armando Melo fouled Balzan attacker Oluwatobiloba Dimeji Awosana in the box.
LEONARDO DA SILVA SOUZA took the penalty but goalkeeper Justin Spiteri partially saved his attempt, however the same player amended his penalty miss to convert the rebound helping Balzan peg back Gudja and taking a point from this match.
In stoppage time, Balzan ended up with 10 players after Momcilo Raso was given the marching orders for fouling a player just outside the box.
Gudja United: Justin Spiteri, Melo Dos Santos Brenner Armando, Sean Cipriott (Gianluca Antonio Remo Lorenzoni 72’), Marvin Santiago Angulo Perea (Gabriel Mensah 72’), Roberto Matias Muchardi, James Arthur, Conor Borg, Ricardo Eusebio Mendes Mango Fernandes, Neil Tabone (Zak Grech 72’), Abou Toure (Shaisen Attard 86’), Mirko Esposito.
Balzan: Rudy Briffa, Andre Prates, Marcus Grima, Benjamin Hili, Ryohei Michibuchi (Aleksander Katanic 68’), Nikola Zerjal (Samir Arab 68’), Nikola Braunovic (Oluwatobiloba Dimeji Awosanya 56’), Momcilo Raso, Leonardo Da Silva Souza, Aleksa Andrejic (Jake Grech 68’), Peter Ukeme Olawale (Paul Fenech 56’).
Referee: Matthew Degabriele.
BOV Player of the game : Justin Spiteri (Gudja United)