Luke Sciberras, of Balzan, tackled from behind by Tarxien’s Ayrton Azzopardi. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar

Balzan 0
Tarxien Rainbows 0

Tarxien Rainbows were indebted to goalkeeper Andrea Cassar for salvaging a point from their clash with Balzan, yesterday.

A close-season signing, Cassar extended his fairytale start to this spell with the Rainbows as the 22-year-old goalkeeper pulled off a series of spectacular, at times vital, saves to keep Balzan at bay.

In a largely slow-burning en-counter, Balzan, who are badly missing the scoring prowess of the injured Bojan Kaljevic, were the more enterprising and adventurous side as Tarxien seemed content to rely on counter-attacks but the Reds lacked a cutting edge.

When Balzan did find a way past the Tarxien rearguard, in which man-of-the-match Oliveira was outstanding, they were thwarted by Cassar.

In-form Malta striker Alfred Effiong flanked Godwin Mensha in attack as Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri opted for a 3-5-2 approach.

Balzan were without three key players as Kaljevic, Dylan Grima and Ryan Fenech are recovering from injuries.

Rainbows coach Jacques Scerri deployed Daniel Zerafa alongside Oliveira in the centre of a four-man defence while up front, Carlos Hevia played off Anderson with Pedro tucking in from the left.

The game was off to a quiet start but a promising opening beckoned for Effiong on 15 minutes.

Latching on to a long ball after Balzan had repelled a Tarxien set-piece, Effiong sped into the box but he was closed down by the Rainbows defenders.

Justin Grioli’s cross-shot from a corner was fisted away by Cassar with the aid of the crossbar.

Mensha then hit wide from inside the box as Balzan began to exert a modicum of control.

Tarxien had been subdued so far but, midway into the first half, two of their Brazilian players came to life. Alex Alves drifted infield from the right before passing to Joao Pedro who advanced on the left before whipping in a cross that Samir Arab headed past the far post in an attempt to clear.

There was another chance for the Rainbows when Anderson found himself unmarked inside the box after Hevia’s initial pass had been blocked. Balzan screamed ‘offside’ but as the flag stayed down, the Brazilian hit goalwards. His tame flick, however, was blocked by Valerio Senatore before Arab cleared.

When Balzan began to press further up the pitch, especially their midfielders, they managed to gain ground, forcing a series of corners. They were all taken by Grioli but the Tarxien defenders dealt well with his inswingers.

On the cusp of half-time, Edison Bilbao Zarate’s free-kick was wide.

Spiteri was forced into a tactical reshuffle early in the second half after defender Clive Brincat limped off with injury.

Lydon Micallef, a winger, came on for Brincat as Spiteri switched to 4-3-3.

Balzan were setting the pace but Tarxien’s counter-attacking threat was not to be dismissed.

On 63 minutes, Effiong once again relied on his speed to get into the Tarxien penalty area but the uncompromising Oliveira cut across to shackle the Balzan striker whose effort was parried away by Cassar who was prominent again soon after when fisting away Grioli’s teasing cross from a free-kick.

After bringing on Ayrton Azzo-pardi, Tarxien coach Scerri introduced Luke Montebello for Alves with 20 minutes left.

Balzan thought they had scored when, with nine minutes remaining, Micallef’s cross from the right soared towards the unmarked Ryan Darmanin, a second-half substitute, but the latter’s glancing header brought a fine save from Cassar who tipped the ball away for a corner.

Cassar was at it again, fisting away Maxim Focsa’s header from Grioli’s corner.

In a counter-attack, Pedro re-leased Montebello who closed in on goal but lifted his shot high and wide as Focsa slid in to put pressure on the Tarxien striker.

Focsa then took a free-kick at the other end but his effort was stopped by Cassar.

Balzan
V. Senatore-6, S. Bezzina-6, C. Brincat-6 (53 L. Micallef-6.5), E. Zarate-6.5, S. Arab-6.5, T. Agius-6 (72 R. Darmanin-6), G. Mensha-5, A. Effiong-5.5, E. Serrano-6, L. Sciberras-6 (87 M. Focsa), J. Grioli-7.

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Cassar-8, E. Baker-5.5, M. Caruana-6, B. Oliveira-7, T. Tabone Desira-7, T. Caruana-5.5 (55 A. Azzopardi-5), C. Hevia-5, D. Zerafa-6.5, A. Alves-6 (70 L. Montebello-6), Pedro-5.5, Anderson-5 (78 B. Muscat).

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards: Agius; T. Caruana; Hevia; Arab; Serrano; Zarate.

BOV player of the match: Oliveira (Tarxien Rainbows).