Balzan and Mosta fired blanks and finished sharing the spoils in a goalless draw.
With one match to go, Balzan are currently eighth on 31 points followed by Gzira on 30, Santa Lucia 29 and Mosta 28. In their final match this coming weekend, Balzan face Marsaxlokk needing a draw to secure their status; Gzira and Santa Lucia both need to win against Floriana and Birkirkara respectively while Mosta have to beat Naxxar, hoping that Santa Lucia fail to win against Birkirkara or Gzira lose to Floriana in order to avoid relegation.
In this match both teams shared the exchanges for long stretches although Balzan had an excellent opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty towards the end of the first half.
Balzan included Ivan Bozovic and Ryohei Michibuchi in their starting line-up replacing suspended Andre Prates and Jan Busuttil. On the other hand, Mosta opted for one change from the team which defeated Hibernians last week as Tegwi Thomas Shedrack was preferred to Jamie Scerri.
Mosta had the first attempt at goal in the 7th minute when, off a Nathan Agius corner from the left, Gustavo Chara heading just over the bar.
In the 9th minute, a cross shot from the left by Ivan Bozovic was saved by goalkeeper David Udoh Akpan.
Three minutes later Nikola Braunovic served George Blackwood whose attempt finished just high over the crossbar.
In the 24th minute, following a free-kick from the right by Nathan Agius, goalkeeper Rudy Briffa parried a header by Evans Aneni.
A minute later a cross shot by Armen Havhannisyan was deflected into a corner.
In the 27th minute, Balzan replied with a good move between Ryohei Michibuchi and Aleksa Andrejic, who rounded a defender inside the area only for his conclusion to be blocked Ryohei Michibuchi himself.
Mosta kept pushing to open the score, as in the 32nd minute, following a cross by Zachary Brincat, Chidera Henry Nwoga tested Rudy Briffa with a header.
Five minutes later, a cross shot by Armenr Hovhannisyan was parried by Rudy Briffa.
In the 38th minute, Aleksa Andrejic made a good run on the left flank and concluded with a diagonal shot which just missed the target.
Four minutes from the end of the first half, Balzan had the best chance to take the lead. They were awarded a penalty after Jake Vassallo floored George Blackwood inside the area. George Blackwood’s shot from the penalty spot was pushed away by David Udoh Akpan.
Just before the end of the first half, a powerful long-distance shot by Ivan Bozovic scraped past the post for Balzan.
In the second half, both teams shared the exchanges as the focus seemed to be more on avoiding conceding a goal.
In the 80th minute, Balzan went close when following a corner a fine effort from an acute angle by Jan Busuttil was turned into a corner once again by goalkeeper David Udoh Akpan.
Balzan: Rudy Briffa, Ivan Bozovic (Jan Busuttil 69′), Samir Arab, Triston Caruana, Paul Fenech, Ryohei Michibuchi, Nikola Zerjal, Nikola Braunovic, Olivier Rommens (Marcus Grima 79′), Aleksa Andrejic (Benjamin Hili 89′), George Blackwood
Mosta: David Udoh Akpan, Tegwi Thomas Shedrack, Adolfo Chara Valois Gustavo (Sasha Cachia 46′) , Damian Aneni Evans, Henry Nwogo Chidera (Jean Paul Farrugia 59′) , Armen Hovhannisyan, Aziz Dao Ben, Willie Britto Dagou, Nathan Agius (Kevin Tulimieri 70′), Jake Vassallo (Nathan Obidike Chukwudi 46′) , Zachary Brincat (Jamie Scerri 87′)
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
BOV Plaer of the game : David Udoh Akpan (Mosta)