Disjointed Balzan haul themselves to victory

to be significant improvement if Balzan are to make a leap in quality. Yesterday, there was a disjointedness about them, a lack of fluidity, for which Mosta are due some credit for their discipline and organisation.

Mosta can take heart from a spirited performance that kept them on their opponents’ tails throughout the 90 minutes. They are a completely new and young side this season with five new foreigners making the initial line-up and Yenz Cini back in goal. Club products Kyle Frendo, Adrian Caruana and Zachary Brincat also made it to the starting line-up of coach of Edmond Lufi. They look full of dynamism though and some solidity plus a high-class striker can take the side quite some way.

Balzan, for all their hype in the summer transfer market, did not present any new faces. Only holding midfielder Anderson De Barros made his league debut although he has played with Balzan in European competition.

This was a quiet game bereft of many goalmouth action and played at a rather slow pace.

Balzan’s goals were the only highlights of a mundane first half. The first was scored by Terence Agius, who ran in from the blind side to meet Kaljevic’s low cross from the left after 34 minutes.

The second, seven minutes later came from a Grioli free kick from outside the area on the left, headed in by Alfred Effiong.

This goal was conceded when Mosta had ten men on the field. Unluckily for them, their injured central defender Tristan Grant was receiving treatment and the substitution had not yet been effected.

Mosta stunned Balzan when reducing the arrears nine minutes into the second half. New recruit Martin Vlcek from Slovakia was allowed space after taking the ball in his stride, advanced in the area and beat keeper Janjusevic.

Balzan were becoming increasingly frustrated in their struggle to create chances but were handed a lifeline on 64 minutes when awarded a soft penalty after Mosta defender Caruana and Balzan’s forward Micallef clashed for the ball inside the area. Bojan Kaljevic tucked it away in style.

Nafti made his appearance for Balzan on 73 minutes, with Kaljevic making way.

But Mosta could again reduce the arrears when themselves awarded a penalty on 77 minutes after Paul Fenech was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area. Victor Oseghale cooly sent the Balzan keeper the wrong way to keep Balzan on their toes.

Balzan defended their slender lead with some sense of anxiety but managed to hold on to their first three points of the season as Mosta could not threaten further.

Balzan’s Alfred Effiong protects the ball - Photo Domenic Aquilina