It was a formidable performance by Balzan as they came from behind with a goal down to outclass Sliema Wanderers beating them 5-1.

This win boosted Balzan’s hopes of moving away from the relegation zone.

Balzan showed their intentions from the beginning of the match. In the 9^th minute, Milan Duric tried his luck with a long shot which didn’t cause any problems to goalkeeper Jake Grech.

Balzan went close in the 10^th minute when a shot from the left by Moussa Sanoh finished just wide.

Ironically, against the way of play, Sliema managed to take the lead in the 21^st minute when ALEX SATARIANO took advantage of a misunderstanding between defender Augustine Loof and goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes and rounded the goalkeeper, placing the ball at the back of an empty net.

On the half-hour, Sliema went close when a shot by Juri Cisotti was turned into a corner by goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes.

However, Balzan turned the result in their favour in only one minute. In the 33^rd minute, they equalised when Michael Johnson headed the ball in the direction of ALEKSA ANDREJIC, who although surrounded by two defenders, slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jake Galea.

In less than a minute later, Balzan took the lead. Just after the match resumed, Moussa Sanoh intercepted the ball on the right and served Milan Djuric who exchanged the ball with Aleksa Andrejic who in turn served UROS LJUBOMIRAC who finished home past the goalkeeper.

In the 44^th minute, Balzan made it 3-1 courtesy of MOUSSA SANOH who pounced on a through-pass, dribbled past two defenders, and finished home past goalkeeper Jake Galea.

In the second half, Balzan continued where they left in the first half, and in the 66th minute, Milan Djuric concluded a good run on the right flank serving STEFAN DIMIC who slotted the ball past the Sliema goalkeeper.

One minute from time, Balzan sealed the issue for a final score of 5-1. Following a long through-pass on the right, UROS LJUBOMIRAC advanced all alone and rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball in an empty net, from an acute-angled position.

BALZAN: Vukasin Vranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab, Milan Djuric, Paul Fenech (Adam Bradshaw 85′), Michael Johnson (Steve Bezzina 70′), Uros Ljubomirac, Stefan Dimic (Alfred Effiong 70′), Moussa Sanoh (Marcus Grima 61′), Aleksa Andrejic, Sean Cipriott (Gary Camilleri 84′).

SLIEMA:Jake Galea, Alex Satariano (Jean Borg 90′), Kurt Shaw, John Mintoff, Juri Cisotti (Jake Engerer 90′), Denilson Pereira (Riki Kakinuma 46′), Edmond Agius, Danny Holla, Gabriel Aquilina (Michele Sansone 59′), Myles Beerman (Nuno Jorge Malheiro Barbosa 70′), Dejan Vukovic.

Referee: Alex Johnson

BOV Player of the Match: Uros Ljubomirac