Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/637230
52 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2016 Sport FOOTBALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Balzan win puts them level with Stripes Balzan ........................1 Birkirkara ...................0 LYDON Micallef 's lone goal was enough to gift high-f lying Bal- zan a precious victory, putting Oliver Spiteri's side in joint third place on level points with Birkirkara. This was the fifth consecu- tive win for Balzan to confirm their title aspirations while their neighbours missed a golden op- portunity to close in on leaders Valletta and second placed Hi- bernians. Ryan Fenech was missing for Balzan while Scicluna and Edward Herrera were still re- covering from injuries. Balzan were the better side in a gruel- ling match but only managed to take the lead in the 64th minute thanks to a goal from an un- marked Micallef who blasted the ball home with an angled shot. BALZAN Ivan Janjusevic, Justin Grioli, Paul Fenech, Steve Bez- zina, Samir Arab, Alfred Effiong, Pedro dos Santos Calcado (87' Aleksandar Vujacic), Lydon Mi- callef (78' Luke Sciberras), Dylan Grima, Alan da Silva Souza (85' Clive Brincat), Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero. Subs not used: Christian Cassar, Maxim Focsa, Bojan Kaljevic, Sean Cipriott. Coach: Oliver Spiteri BIRKIRKARA Miroslav Ko- pric, Cain Attard, Mauricio Matias Latini Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic (72' Edmond Agius), Matthew Guillaumier (58' Ryan Darmanin), Edison David Bilbao Zarate, Ryan Ca- menzuli, Goran Mujanovic (83' Kurt Zammit), L'Imam Seydi. Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Joseph Zerafa, Andrea Curmi, Fabien Lufi. Coach: Drazen Besek Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, David Castillo Additional Assistant Referees: Esther Azzopardi, Glen Tonna Fourth Of ficial: Roberto Vella Yellow Cards: Zarate, Camen- zuli, Kopric, Ef fiong Scorer: 64' Lydon Micallef BOV Player of the Match: Alan da Silva Souza