In a good and convincing way, Balzan came back from a goal down to beat Santa Lucia 3-1, thus registering another consecutive win.
For this game Balzan were forced to make two changes from their last game against Zebbug Rangers FC as they could not count on the suspended Ivan Bozovic and Matheus Nogueira Albuguerque de Sousa with Samir Arab and Bojan Kaljevic handed included in the starting line-up.
On the other hand, Santa Lucia preferred Jamie Zerafa, Jan Tanti and new recruit Robert Hehedosh, who left quite a good impression, to Liam Ayad, Dexter Xuereb and Jamie Carbone who were among the substitutes.
Balzan had the first chance, in the 11th minute, when Alexander Satariano stole the ball from a defender and served Bojan Kaljevic but goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona was on the alert and denied him.
In the 14th minute, Santa Lucia took the lead when their new signing Robert Hehedosh concluded a good move on the right with a shot which hit the upright and off the rebound, FRANCISCO RODRIGUES FARIAS headed the ball home.
In the 20th minute Balzan equalised when Alexander Satariano served BOJAN KALJEVIC, on the right and from an acute angle he manged to beat Matthew Calleja Cremona with a powerful shot on the near post.
In the 38th minute Santa Lucia threatened with a curling shot by Jan Tanti which scraped past the upright.
However, in the 41st minute, Balzan went ahead for the first time. Diego Francarolli Pacheco lost the ball to Bojan Kaljevic who advanced into the area before serving ANGEL YESID TORES QUINONES who slotted home.
Two minutes into the added time, Balzan were unlucky to hit the woodwork with a effort from an acute angle from the right by Angel Yesid Torres Quinones.
In the 59th minute Bojan Kaljevic went close to adding another for Balzan when Diego Francarolli Pacheco slipped outside the area but Bojan’s low shot was deflected into a corner by goalkeeper Calleja Cremona.
In the 64th minute, Santa Lucia went close to equalising with a Jan Tanti angled shot which was blocked by Rudy Briffa and off the rebound, Robert Hehedosh’s shot which was deflected by Briffa into a corner.
However, in the 68th minute, Balzan sealed the issue with a third goal. Alexander Satariano provided an assist from the right and ANGEL YESID TORRES QUINONES slotted the ball past goalkeeper Calleja Cremona from the edge of the area.
In the 75th minute, a shot by Aleksa Andrejic was saved by Calleja Cremona.
Four minutes later, Alexander Satariano had a good chance to put his name on the score list, when served by Bogdan Mladenovic, but his attempt hit the upright.
BALZAN: Rudy Briffa,Diver Duvan Torres Quinones, Samir Arab (Zach Grech 86’), Marcus Grima, Paul Fenech (Luca Mallia 86’), Angel Yesid Torres Quinones (Suleiman Jalu 87’), Alexander Satariano, Nikola Braunovic, Momcilo Raso, Aleksa Andrejic (Adam Bradshaw 85’) Bojan Kaljevic (Bogdan Mladenovic 70’).
SANTA LUCIA: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Lorenzo Yoel Soares Fonseca, Jamie Zerafa (Jamie Carbone 58’), Nicholas Pulis, Robert Bairam (Matthias Vella 78’), Robert Hehedosh, Jan Tanti, Pdiego Francarolli Pacheco (Liam McKay 61’), Jurgen Pisani, Francisco Rodrigues Farias, Angel Miguel Alba (Liam Ayad Blie Bi Bah 78’).
Referee: Darryl Agius.
BOV Player of the Match: Angel Yesid Torres Quinones (Balzan).