Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1199625
29 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JANUARY 2020 SPORTS FOOTBALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG IN a match full of controversy, Balzan registered a 2-1 win over Sliema Wanderers that consolidated their place in the top half of the table. The second match at the Hibernians stadium saw the teams of Sliema and Balzan fac- ing off each other. Sliema made a disastrous start to the season and find them- selves tenth in the table. At the other end, Balzan struggled to gain consist- ency and are sitting mid-way through the table attempting to clinch a spot inside next sea- son's Europa League. During the previous round, Balzan emerged winners as they secured a 2-1 win. Balzan made a great start to the match and broke the dead- lock after ten minutes. Luke Montebello exchanged posses- sion with Uros Ljubomirac and the latter slotted the ball home from close range. Sliema protested for a pen- alty on the 16th minute as Juri Cisotti was brought down in- side the penalty area. The ball remained in their possession and Federico Vasilchik saw his close range shot being saved by Kristijan Naumovski. Balzan lost the opportunity to double their advantage on the 28th minute. Kurt Shaw floored Arthur Faria Machado inside the penalty area and the referee signalled for a penalty. How- ever, Andrija Majdevac's shot from the eleven metres mark was pushed away by Entonjo Elezaj. Scerri's men remained superi- or and threatened Sliema again on the 35th minute. Ljubomirac was played through on goal down the right flank before fir- ing a shot that was blocked by Sliema's goalkeeper. Ten minutes later, Majdevac sent a shot from inside the pen- alty area that sailed off target. Balzan doubled their advan- tage four minutes into the sec- ond half. Faria Machado drilled a low cross in the direction of Luke Montebello who went round his marker and placed the ball past Elezaj. Sliema pulled one back on the 67th minute. Claudi Zappa fired a low shot from distance that stunned Naumovski. Balzan had a good chance to score again on the 75th minute. Majdevac made space for him- self and sent a shot that went centimetres high. Naumovski denied Sliema from equalising on the 77th minute. Cisotti hit a powerful shot from an angled position that forced a great save from Balzan's goalkeeper. Sliema had a goal disallowed on the 83rd minute. Zappa's cross was met by Jean Paul Far- rugia and the substitute headed the ball home. However, the goal was ruled out as the assis- tant referee raised his flag for an offside. An argument took place on the 90th minute. The referee approached Sliema's technical area and sent off one of the of- ficials on the bench. Sliema tried desperately to take something from the match during the latter stages; how- ever, Balzan held firm to take home the three points. Sliema Wanderers start- ing line-up: Entonjo Elezaj, Michele Sansone (Jea n Paul Farrugia-78), Alexander Sa- tariano (Claudio Zappa-45), Kurt Shaw, John Mintoff, Mark Scerri, Federico Vasil- chik, Juri Cisotto, Arthur Oy- ama, Claudio Pani (Edmond Agius-57), Goran Adamovic Balzan starting line-up: Kristijan Naumovski, Augus- tine Loof. Nenad Sljivic, Ste- ven Pisani, Steven Bzzina, Paul fenech, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Arthur Faria Macha- do (Dale Camilleri-80), Andrija Majdevac (Samir Arab-87), Luke Montebello (Alfred Ef- fiong-72) Referee: Emanuel Grech Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Luke Portelli Fourth Official: Philip Far- rugia BOV Player of the Match: Luke Montebello (Balzan) Balzan beat Wanderers to consolidate position Sliema Wanderers Balzan 1 2