Stripes, Balzan share the spoils

by Ayrton Galea - 15th January 2017

Technical midfielder Mislav Andelkovic scored his first goal with our Club sixteen minutes from time to earn the Stripes the third positive result, as they share the spoils in a 1-1 draw against Balzan FC in the BOV Premier League.

The Stripes continued to build on their positive start in the New Year when following back-to-back victories, this time they relied on their never-give-up attitude to secure a point and stay in the challenge with the first four teams.

It was a fair result at the end of the day as both teams had their moments, with the Stripes having a slight edge in the first-half where they produced a number of opportunities where could have broke the dead-lock. On the other hand, Balzan were the better side in the second half and they failed to convert a number of open chances after taking the lead before conceding the equalising goal.

Balzan broke the dead-lock twenty minutes inside the second half and they seemed they were going to strengthen their position on top but Birkirkara didn't pull the towel in and earned the equalising goal. Both teams tried to get the winning goal but the score remained unchanged.

Birkirkara Coach Nikola Jaros affected just one change from the last match against Pembroke Athleta, as Matthew Guillaumier replaced Srdjan Dimitrov. Christian Bubalovic recovered on time and he started on the substitutes' bench.

The inclusion of Guillaumier saw him as the most advanced midfielder, in-front of Andelkovic and Sciberras. Dimitrov and Plut started at the either side of Guillaumier while Malan led the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The First Half

Balzan produced the first scoring chance of the match after nine minutes. It was Ryan Fenech who received possession off a free-kick and the technical midfielder tried his luck with a long-distance shot but alert Henry Bonello easily saved.

Balzan went close again on the thirteenth minute. Alan Da Silva Souza caught the Stripes' rear-guard on the wrong feet as he advanced unmarked but in-front of an open goal failed to hit the target as his effort ended wide.

The Stripes went close on the eighteenth minute. It was a quick build-up that saw Dimitrov and Sciberras exchanging possession before Plut sent an in-swinging cross to Attard but his header was deflected into a corner kick. Moments later, Guillaumier went close with a low strike from inside the box.

Birkirkara were playing better and they could have surged ahead before the half-hour mark. It was an excellent cross by Dimitrov that saw Plut holding the ball inside the box and serve Guillaumier who saw his well-placed shot ended just over the bar.

The Stripes kept pushing forwards and they had a goal disallowed for an offside position nine minutes from half-time. A wonderful volley by Guillaumier was saved by Janjusevic but failed to hold, and from the rebound, Malan slotted home. However, the goal was ruled-out for an offside position.

Three minutes from half-time, Balzan went close. A cross by Paul Fenech found Alan Da Silva Souza who controlled the ball well but his volley hit the side-netting. On the other side of the pitch, a powerful free-kick by Malan hit the wall as the first-half ended goal-less.

The Second Half

Balzan produced the first scoring chance of the second half. A free-kick by Abdelkarim Nafti found Bruno Giglio De Oliveira who hit a fine strike that forced Henry Bonello to save in two attempts. Five minutes later, a volley by Plut was saved by Janjusevic.

Goalkeeper Henry Bonello sent a bold reminder of his qualities between the posts before the hour mark when he produced an excellent save to deny Nafti, with Gareth Sciberras clearing the ball into safety, before Da Silva Souza could slot home.

However the Birkirkara goalkeeper could do nothing six minutes later when Balzan surged ahead. Joseph Zerafa fouled Matteo Piciollo and Referee Alan Mario Sant ordered the penalty. From the spot, Kaljevic made no mistake.

Balzan almost doubled their lead two minutes later. In a fast break-away, Da Silva Souza put Nafti all-alone but the play-maker's eye-catching lob smashed against the crossbar and into the safe hands of Bonello. Less than a minute later, Nafti was unlucky again not to make contact in front of an open goal.

Birkirkara stepped-up their performance and punished Balzan for their misses as sixteen minutes from time, they made the score level. Dimitrov made a dazzling run on the right wing and picked Malan inside the box. The towering forward teed the ball to Andelkovic who calmly hit home with a well-placed low strike.

Birkirkara made the score level sixteen minutes from time. Guillaumier sent a fine through to Dimitrov who picked Malan inside the box. The Uruguauyan forward lay off to Andelkovic who hit home with a fine low strike.

The Stripes were now pushing forward and they piled-up the pressure on their opponents. They almost struck a dramatic goal on the ninetieth minute when an in-swinging cross shot by Cain Attard that bounced off the crossbar with the ball bouncing out of play.

BIRKIRKARA: Henry Bonello, Gareth Sciberras, Matthew Guillaumier, Mislav Andelkovic, Srdjan Dimitrov, Gonzalo Malan, Vito Plut, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Cain Attard, Predrag Jovic.

BALZAN: Ivan Janjusevic, Bruno Giglio De Oliveira, Bojan Kaljevic, Samir Arab, Clive Brincat (53' Justin Grioli), Ryan Fenech, Alan Da Silva Souza, Abdelkarim Nafti, Elkin Serrano Valero, Paul Fenech, Matteo Piciollo.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Paul Apap.
Fourth Official: Mario Apap.

Yellow Cards: 8' Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), Samir Arab (Balzan)

Scorers: 66' Bojan Kaljevic (Balzan), 76' Mislav Andelkovic (Birkirkara)

BOV Player of the Match: Alan Da Silva Souza (Balzan).

comments powered by Disqus