Kaljevic headed goals give Balzan second win

Two headed goals by Bojan Kaljevic gave Balzan a narrow 2-1 win against a stubborn Pembroke side yesterday evening.

It was Balzan’s second consecutive win of the season, having beaten Mosta 3-2 in their opening match last week.

The Montenegrin striker headed Balzan ahead after six minutes; then he struck again four minutes from the end of normal time to kill all hopes Pembroke had of salvaging a point after they had defended stubbornly for most of the second half.

Although the victory was richly deserved, it was ironical that the winning goal arrived soon after Pembroke had gone very close to taking the lead themselves in a very rare counter attack.

In the first half, Balzan were the better team and Pembroke were forced on the defensive for long stretches.

Oliver Spiteri’s side dominated the midfield sector as the hard working Paul Fenech and Anderson de Barros never stopped running apart from their good distribution of the ball.

However, after taking an early lead, they failed to capitalise on a couple of occasions that came their way.

For this they paid dearly as in their only attempt at goal, Pembroke equalised¸ albeit through an overhead kick which was deviated the wrong side of goalie Cassar.

In the second half, it was all Balzan as they launched one attack after another, but Pembroke held on gallantly until they finally succumbed to a second Kaljevic header four minutes from the end.

That meant a second consecutive victory for Balzan.

It was Balzan who took an early lead when on the sixth minute, off a Justin Grioli freekick, Bojan Kaljevic headed home past the helpless Calleja Cremona.

Four minutes later, a Fenech shot went just wide.

Pembroke equalised in the 28th minute albeit against the run of play. Regis da Silva’s overhead kick from outside the area appeared to have hit Elkin Serrano Valero, sending goalie Christian Paul Cassar the wrong way and the ball finishing at the back of the net.

In the 34th minute, Calleja Cremona fumbled a ball which went to Effiong, but the latter’s shot was missed by Kaljevic in front of an empty goal.

Before the interval, Balzan went close twice, first through a Kaljevic effort which went over and then through a Grioli freekick which was saved in two attempts by Calleja Cremona.

Balzan were again in command in the early second half stages and a Grioli freekick went over the bar.

Balzan again went very close to scoring in the 62nd minute when Lydon Micallef set substitute Piciollo in the Pembroke area, but the latter’s fine effort just missed the target.

Two minutes later, as Balzan insisted on attack, Piciollo had another effort blocked by the diving Levnaic.

In the 76th minute, Kaljevic had a shot controlled easily by goalie Calleja Cremona.

Four minutes later, Pembroke were somewhat unlucky not to take the lead when in their only real attack in the second half, a Mariano cross went to Regis da Silva whose effort was blocked by Cassar.

From the rebound, David Fenech’s goalbound shot was miraculously blocked by Zoran Levnaic.

Balzan deservedly took the lead once again in the 86th minute. It was Kaljevic who became Balzan’s hero when he rose above friend and foe to head the ball into the net, following a Paul Fenech cornerkick.

In added time, Pembroke had another good chance to equalise when from a Clifford Gauci cross, David Fenech hit just wide.

At the end, they had to bow out to a superior outfit.