Day 23 Valletta 7 Balzan Y. 2 Published on: 13-03-2012

An early lead paved the way for victory although Balzan had levelled matters mid-way through the first half. However it was only a matter of a few minutes for Valletta to regain the lead and add more goals for an emphatic win.

Valletta had Terence Scerri making his return after almost ten months while Italian defender Filippo Andrea Scozzese was making his debut when he was included as a substitute. Michael Mifsud, Mady Panandetiguiri and Alfred Effiong were unavailable for the Citizens. Balzan, on the other hand, welcomed back Bledjon Guga but lacked Rennie Forace.

Valletta managed to take the lead after just seven minutes thanks to Edmond Agius whose rising shot gave goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri no chance.

Balzan levelled matters on 25 minutes thanks to a direct freekick by the usual Pedro dos Santos Calcado.
The Citizens regained the lead on the half hour when off a Denni corner from the left, William Barbosa tapped the ball home from close range.

Aleksandars Cekulajevs added another goal a minute later after concluding a solo effort with a shot from the left which beat the Balzan custodian.

The Latvian striker made it 4-1 on 34 minutes when he accidentally blocked a shot by William Barbosa but was quick to control the ball and hit low past Camilleri.

Two minutes in the second half, captain Gilbert Agius concluded a good run with a low shot from the edge of the area which ended at the back of the net.

On the 55th minute, Valletta scored the sixth goal thanks to a strong header by Ousseni Zongo following an Edmond Agius freekick from the right.

With another direct freekick, Pedro dos Santos Calcado scored the second goal for Balzan on 75 minutes as he beat substitute goalkeeper Yenz Cini.

Seven minutes from time, the Citizens scored the seventh goal when they were awarded a penalty after Bjorn Bondin brought Terence Scerri down inside the area. From the penalty spot, Terence Scerri made no mistake to make it 7-2.

William Barbosa was voted BOV Player of the Match.

Source: maltafootball.com

VALLETTA  - A. Hogg (Y. Cini), R. Briffa, E. Agius, D. Dos Santos, J. Caruana (F. Scozzese), I. Azzopardi, O. Zongo,  W. Barbosa, A. Cekulajevs (T. Scerri), S. Borg, G. Agius.

BALZAN Y. -  M. Camilleri, P. Calcado, J. Francica, Y. Camilleri, B. Guga, G. Bonello (B. Bondin), C. Ciantar, N. Tasic, J. Pace, D. Grima (S. Ciscaldi), M. Deanov (M. Ciantar).


BOV Premier League
Date: 13-03-12     Time: 20:00    Venue: Hibs Ground

Scorers: 7' Edmond Agius, 25' 75' Pedro Calcado, 31' 34' Aleksandars. Cekulajevs, 47' Gilbert Agius, 55' Ousseni Zongo, 83' Terrence Scerri

Yellow Cards:  P. Calcado, S. Borg, W. Barbosa, C. Ciantar, J. Francica, B. Bondin.
Man of Match: William Barbosa (V)

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi