Balzan lost their chance to jump into third place and instead this win puts Birkirkara in third place, on 10 points level with Marsaxlokk, four behind Floriana and one ahead of Mosta and Balzan.
Birkirkara put on a strong display securing a well-deserved victory over a lacklustre Balzan side.
For Balzan, this was a disappointing display following last weekend’s precious win over Hibernians.
In what was a nervy first half, Birkirkara took the lead in the 16th minute. Off a corner from the right taken by Paul Mbong, a melee ensued in the Balzan area where the defenders failed to clear the danger. The ball fell to Enrico Pepe who headed the ball down and Andrei Ciolacu served YANNIK YANKAM who hit home from close range.
Balzan failed to react, with Birkirkara threatening from more set-pieces in search of a second goal.
In fact, in the 38th minute, Birkirkara doubled the score. The Balzan defence failed to clear and in came Enmy Pena Beltre who once making his way into the box was brought down by Triston Caruana. The match official pointed to the penalty spot and from the resultant penalty kick ANDREI CIOLACU made no mistake.
In the 43rd minute, Balzan squandered a brilliant opportunity to reduce the score when Leonardo Da Silva de Souza blasted over the bar from an ideal place inside the small area.
After the change of ends, with two goals behind, Balzan, in a bid to bolster their side, made four substitutions. Triston Caruana, Peter Ukeme Olawale, Nikola Braunovic and Aleksa Andrejic were replaced by Paul Fenech, Aleksandar Katanic, Andre Fausto Prates and Oluwatobiloba Dimeji Awosanya.
However, two minutes into the second half, Birkirkara extended their lead. Defender Momcilo Raso’s back-pass header didn’t have enough power to reach his goalkeeper and in came ANDREI CIOLACU who profited from this mistake and after rounding goalkeeper Danilo Golovic slotted the ball into an empty net.
Balzan tried to mount a reaction but failed to be of any danger to the Birkirkara’s goalkeeper who was never under any threat.
Yannik Yankam tried his luck in search for Birkirkara’s fourth but his long-range effort went wide from Golovic’s goal.
Balzan’s reply came from Jake Grech but could not direct his close-range effort towards goal and missed the target.
Birkirkara continued to dominate proceedings in the final stages of the match while preserving their three-goal lead. They tried for a fourth through substitute Matteo Gambin who made a good incursion from the left side before seeing his low drive fly past Golovic’s goal.
In the 85th minute, Balzan had their last opportunity to reduce the score when a direct freekick by Leonardo da Silva de Souza flew just over the cross bar.
Balzan: Danilo Golovic, Ivan Bozovic, Samir Arab, Triston Caruana (Prates 46′), Jake Grech (Benjamin Hili 67’), Ryohei Michibuchi, Nikola Braunovic, Momcilo Raso, Leonardo da Silva de Souza, Aleksa Andrejic (Oluwatobilola Dimeji Awosanya 46′), Peter Ukeme Olawale (Paul Fenech 46′)
Birkirkara: Marcel Zapytowski, Daniele Mariani, Jovan Pajovic, Enrico Pepe, Yannick Yankam (Marko Durisic 79′), Paul Mbong (Manuel de Filippis 87′), Kurt Zammit (Matteo Gambin 72′), Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre (Nathan Cross 87′), Simon Zibo, Ali Diakite, Andrei Ciolacu (Alex Satariano 72′)
Referee: Philip Farrugia
BOV Player of the game: Andrei Ciolacu (Birkirkara)