The Malta Independent on Sunday
Late goals give Balzan lift-off against Birkirkara
Football - BOV Premier League
Matthew Guillaumier, might have lead to their downfall.
High-flying Balzan came into this match on the back of a run of seven unbeaten matches and were an unchanged side yesterday.
Balzan were proactive and fluent from the outset. They had already carved out two good scoring opportunities within the first ten minutes. Birkirkara keeper David Cassar produced two splendid reflex saves as he first tipped Effiong’s powerful shot over the bar into a corner and then denied Grioli, turning his rising shot into another corner.
Past the quarter hour, Kaljevic advanced inside the Birkirkara area but was faced by the onrushing keeper and the ball went out.
Then, at a point when it seemed as if Birkirkara’s best hope was to survive to half-time without conceding a goal, they took the lead against the run of play three minutes before the break. Grech miscued his shot, on a Fabiano low cross from the byeline on the left, but Matthew Guillaumier was on hand to knock the ball past Janjusevic from close range.
That required an immediate response from Balzan who, after substituting the injured Arab with Steve Bezzina, threatened again with two headed efforts from Mendes. The first missed the target, while the second was tame and aimed straight at keeper Cassar.
The second half started with some controversy. Balzan claimed that Zammit’s foul on Kaljevic on the right was committed inside the Birkirkara area and the referee looked like awarding the penalty to Balzan but, after protests from the Birkirkara players, he consulted his assistant and opted for a freekick. Mendes played it short for Ryan Fenech, whose inswinger was headed out by a Birkirkara defender.
Balzan remained dominant but lacking punch. Past the hour Birkirkara were dealt a blow as Guillaumier limped off, to be replaced by Cremona and later Ryan Camenzuli was introduced for Grech to give the Stripes more solidity in midfield.
Balzan’s nimble moves, almost always orchestrated by the evrpresent Ryan Fenech, tended to fizzle out before reaching the Birkirkara box.
In fairness, the Birkirkara keeper remained alert, palming out a Mendes free kick form the left on 78 minutes.
But Birkirkara were living dangerously at the back as they surrendered the initiative. Balzan, who needed to channel their frustration into something more constructive, scored twice within as many minutes to turn the tables on their opponents.
On 85 minutes, Bojan Kaljevic reached for a long Paul Fenech cross before keeper Cassar, who had rushed off his line, to head into an empty net. Two minutes later, a Carlos Mendes free kick from wide on the left surprised all and sundry as the ball finished low at the far post.