League leaders Balzan stay on track

Football - BOV Premier League

worked tirelessly in midfield, in the absence of the injured Ryan Fenech, as Balzan poured menacingly forward raking several crosses inside the Sliema area but for most of the time, their strikers Alves, Effiong and Kaljevic struggled to breach Sliema’s compact defence.

Balzan had a new loanee from Serbia, the 27-year-old right back Ivan Bozovic, who started instead of Justin Grioli.

Sliema needed to arrest their recent slump that saw them re- main winless in three matches but another defeat has seen them lose their way domestically.

Yesterday they had Ricardo Correa and Mark Scerri suspended, with Qeros exiled to the bench. Gabriel Aquilina and Peter Xuereb started in midfield, with Nikola Milinceanu returning in attack.

Jonathan Pearson’s injury on the half hour, forced Sliema coach Buttigieg to introduce new Ghana defender Ashong Ni Nortey on the left, with Bian- chardi moving in central defence.

The Wanderers survived early scares as Balzan started brightly. Alves squandered a good chance, miskicking a Ljubomirac cross and Kaljevic then headed over on another Bozovic cross.

Balzan threatened again towards the middle of the half. Kaljevic controlled the ball well inside the area, on a Lepovic cross, but was foiled by Sliema keeper Zammit’s smart save as he turned his low goalbound ef- fort into a corner.

Ljubomirac concluded a scramble inside the Sliema area with a rising shot but Balzan carved out the half’s best chance five minutes before the break. Effiong’s firm header on Bozovic’s cross was parried by the Sliema keeper and the ball was cleared off the line by Bianchardi.

The pattern did not change much in the second half although Sliema ventured out of their half with more frequency. Chances remained at a premium though. Alves hit Ljubomirac’s cross inches wide and Kaljevic also missed the target with his shot on the turn.

Balzan badly needed a spark and that came on 72 minutes when the leaders finally broke the deadlock. Uros Ljubomirac played one-two with Alves before stroking the ball past keeper Zammit.

With Balzan looking liberated, there was no sign of menace from their opponents who introduced Frenci Qeros for Aquilina for the last 12 minutes.

But Balzan never looked like surrendering their lead, even though Sansone flashed his shot across the Balzan goal with seven minutes remaining.

Ljubomirac in fact added another goal for Balzan in the dying minutes, finishing off Kaljevic’s cross.

In added time there was scant consolation for Sliema as Mathias Muchardi pulled one back with his direct free kick.

This match between the two sides had ended goalless in the first round. Yesterday, at the Hibernians Stadium, the match produced three goals although they took a long time in coming. Balzan eventually broke Sliema’s spirited resistance with a brace...