Mosta 3
Micallef 28; Zammit 59; Kaljevic 83;
Balzan 1
Magro 87;

Mosta kept alive their hopes of an historic participation in the Europa League qualifiers in summer as they brushed aside Balzan to secure fourth place in the Premier League standings.

It was a comfortable victory for the Blues who bar for a short period at the start of the second half were always in control.

Now, Mosta anxiously wait on where the two major honours will be heading to see if they will qualify for European football next season.

But even if they were too miss out the Blues should be proud of their efforts as they’ve showed they could become one of the emerging forces in the local football scene.

Mosta coach Enrico Piccioni was boosted by the return from suspension of striker Bojan Kaljevic who missed his team’s goalless draw against Sliema Wanderers. Alex Cini was given the nod to start at right back in the absence of the suspended Jonas Ekani.

Balzan were without two key midfielders as Pedrinho was serving a one-match ban while Dylan Grima was recovering from injury. Firas Aboulezz and Gianfranco Micallef were given the nod to start while Mark Spiteri replaced Jose Luis Armario Negrin who was unavailable.

Mosta quickly seized the initiative and after five minutes Gianmarco Piccioni sent a dangerous low cross towards Kaljevic but the towering striker failed to connect from routine distance.

Balzan responded on 18 minutes when Andrew Scicluna headed just wide following an Aboulezz cross.

The woodwork denied Mosta an opener on 24 minutes when Ian Zammit sent a teasing cross towards Kaljevic whose header came off the upright.

Mosta did break the stalemate four minutes later when Piccioni nodded the ball towards Manolito Micallef who beat Emmanuel Bartolo with a low drive.

Balzan were rattled and their best chance came on the stroke of half-time when the Mosta defence failed to deal with Grioli’s cross and Lydon Micallef incredibly fired wide from routine distance.

Balzan improved and four minutes into the second half goalkeeper Omar Borg dived full stretch to keep out Spiteri’s shot and a minute later the Mosta no.1 charged out of his goal to block the goalbound Lydon Micallef.

Mosta moved quickly to settle the match as on 59 minutes Kurt Zammit, who had replaced Antonio Carrozza, was well picked by Piccioni inside the area and he drilled the ball past Bartolo.

The Blues completed the victory seven minutes from time when Micallef’s throughball released Kaljevic who planted the ball past the keeper.

Balzan pulled a goal back late on thanks to Kurt Magro. He beat Borg with a low drive.

Mosta
O. Borg-6, A. Cini-6, T. Farrugia-6.5, M. Brincat-6, I. Grech-6, R. Grech-6, M. Micallef-7.5, A. Carrozza-6 (51 K. Zammit), I. Zammit-5.5 (69 J. Brincat), B. Kaljevic-7 (83 K. Frendo, G. Piccioni-6.5.

Balzan
E. Bartolo-6, J. Grioli-6, S. Bezzina-5.5, A. Scicluna-5, Ramon-6, K. Magro-6, E. Bilboa Zarate-6, G. Micallef-6, L. Micallef-5.5, M. Spiteri-6, F. Aboulezz-5 (71 S. Cipriott).

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: R. Grech, Spiteri, Kaljevic.

BOV Player of the match: Manolito Micallef (Mosta).