Sliema Wanderers 1
Mitev 21 pen;
Balzan Youths 1
M. Ciantar 53;

Miguel Ciantar came back to haunt his former club Sliema Wanderers as the Malta U-21 striker struck a second-half equaliser to help Balzan Youths to a merited draw.

The newly-promoted side fully deserved the point yesterday.

Although not possessing the same kind of qualities of the more-quoted Wanderers, Balzan showed true grit and passion to grab a useful draw that could come handy in future reckoning.

Goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri was the protagonist for Balzan as he effected a string of fine saves, particularly in the first half, that kept his side in the match.

No surprise, he was voted man-of-the-match.

As regards Sliema, coach Danilo Doncic will certainly feel disappointed with the showing of his players.

They squandered various scoring chances in the first half which, in the end, cost them the three points.

Yesterday, Doncic was forced to do without chief scorer Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who is out with hamstring trouble. He was replaced by the returning Daniel Mitev who missed the 1-0 win over Birkirkara through suspension.

Timmy Thomas is still out with a knee injury but Cleaven Frendo was back in the fray after recovering full fitness and was given the nod to make his debut following his summer loan move from Valletta.

Balzan were without their inspirational playmaker Pedrinho who is serving a two-match ban but Brazilian striker Fagner Bernardes was back to the starting formation while the returning Jonathan Francica was preferred to Lydon Micallef.

The early minutes were devoid of any entertaining fare as both teams looked short of ideas with the result that scoring chances were few and far between.

Sliema, however, broke the deadlock in their first attempt at goal on 21 minutes.

Jorge traded the ball with Frendo but he was dispossessed by Bledjon Guga who hit the ball with his arm inside the Balzan box.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Mitev stepped up for the penalty and rifled the shot past Camilleri.

Balzan were still jaded when Jorge sped clear on the left and his low cross was deflected onto the upright before bouncing wide.

Four minutes later, Ryan Grech tried his luck from the distance and his shot was pushed away to a corner by Camilleri. From the ensuing flag-kick, taken by Jorge, Rumen Galabov flicked the ball just over.

But Balzan regrouped and came agonisingly close to an equaliser on 32 minutes when from a Fernandes free-kick, Kris Bright saw his dipping header hitting the upright before the Wanderers cleared.

Two minutes later and Sliema responded with a firm drive from Jackson Lima that flashed wide of the Balzan goal. Camilleri then dived to his right to push away Roderick Bajada’s curling drive as the Wanderers pressed the accelerator.

Frendo should have doubled Sliema’s lead on 40 minutes when picked inside the area by Jorge. However, with only Camilleri to beat, Frendo shot straight into the hands of the alert keeper.

Just before half-time, Balzan almost drew level.

Miguel Ciantar stole the ball from Steve Bezzina and surged inside the Sliema half only for his following shot to be blocked by the onrushing Henry Bonello, the Sliema no.1.

That opportunity sprung Balzan into action. They started the second half with more verve and on 53 minutes it was all-square again.

Bright was first to a Fernandes corner. He nodded the ball into the path of Ciantar who stabbed home past Bonello.

That goal seemed to hit the Wanderers hard as Doncic withdrew Frendo and roped in Beppe Muscat in a bid to add more pace to his team’s manoeuvres.

Sliema’s first attempt at goal after the break came on 68 minutes when Lima hit a low drive that was dealt with by Camilleri.

A minute later Jorge dashed into the Balzan box but his grounder was pushed away to a corner by the keeper.

Balzan’s solid defending was clearly frustrating Sliema who were trying hard to find a way through to score a second goal.

Doncic tried his last card when he introduced Jerry Ani in lieu of Galabov.

But the stalemate prevailed and four minutes from time, Josef Mifsud almost complicated matters for the Blues when his backpass surprised Bonello.

The goalkeeper ran backwards to stop the ball from crossing the line which he managed to do but the referee awarded Balzan an indirect free-kick just inside the small box.

Guga’s powerful drive hit the Sliema wall before the ball was booted upfield.

The Wanderers had their own chance to win the match a minute from time. Jorge sped clear on the right before serving the un-marked Ani who incredibly hit badly with only the Balzan keeper to beat.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-5.5, A. Muscat-5, J. Mifsud-5, R. Grech-5.5 (71 M. Scerri-5), D. Mitev-5.5, S. Bezzina-5, J. Lima-6, R. Galabov-6 (83 J. Ani), R. Bajada-6.5, Jorge-6.5, C. Frendo-5.5 (62 B. Muscat-6).

Balzan Youths
M. Camilleri-7.5, C. Ciantar-6, R. Forace-6, Y. Camilleri-6.5, J. Francica-6.5, B. Guga-7, D. Grima-6, N. Tasic-6.5, M. Ciantar-7 (71 A. Agius-5), F. Bernardes-6.5 (80 L. Micallef), K. Bright-6.5 (90 B. Bondin).

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Guga, C. Ciantar, Mitev, Forace, Mifsud, Grima, Micallef.

BOV Player of the match: Matthew Camilleri (Balzan Youths).