Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/814533
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 2017 49 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Tarxien Rainbows ...... 0 Balzan ....................... 3 WARREN ZAMMIT BALZAN found no difficulty against struggling Tarxien Rain- bows as they registered a solid 3-0 win. Tarxien created the first oppor- tunity on goal after seven min- utes. Dylan Micallef fired a shot from the edge of the penalty area that went over. Balzan responded three minutes later. Lydon Micallef served Alan Da Silva Souza inside the pen- alty area and the latter's shot was well saved by Philip Schranz who tipped the ball behind him for a corner. On the 16th minute, the Rain- bows had another attempt on goal. This time it was Matthew Sladden who fired a shot from distance that was neutralised by Christian Cassar. Two minutes later, Balzan found Schranz on the alert once more. Bojan Kaljevic went inside the penalty area and hit a strong shot that forced a great save from the Tarxien shot stopper. However, Schranz could not do anything to deny Balzan on the 27th minute. Micallef ran inside the penalty area past his marker and placed the ball inside the bot- tom corner. Oliver Spiteri's side doubled their advantage three minutes later. Following a string of passes inside Tarxien's penalty area, Ter- ence Agius found Da Silva Souza and the Brazilian player sent a close range shot inside the net. On the 39th minute, Balzan scored again. Alfred Effiong went on a brilliant solo effort down the left flank before finishing past Schranz. Three minutes into the sec- ond half, Emerson Marcellina of Tarxien tried his luck from a free kick, but his shot ended up off target. Tarxien had another attempt on goal on the 55th minute. Ebi- abowei Baker fired a volley from distance that sailed wide. On the 69th minute, Azzopardi of Tarxien hit a low shot from inside the penalty area that was easily saved by Cassar. Balzan hit back on the 77th minute. Kaljevic received a through pass and the Montene- grin striker hit a close range shot that forced a difficult save from Schranz. In the additional time, Ab- delkarim Nafti fired a shot from a free kick that was neutralised by Schranz. Tarxien Rainbows starting line- up: Philip Schranz, Ebiabowei Baker, Matthew Brincat, Mat- thew Sladden, Ayrton Azzopardi, Dylan Micallef, Andrew Agius, Daniel Zerafa, Daniel Tabone, Kurt Zammit, Sacha Borg Balzan starting line-up: Chris- tian Cassar, Samir Arab, Alan Da Silva Souza, Lydon Micallef, Sean Cipriott, Clive Brincat, Alfred Effiong, Bojan Kaljevic, Andrerson De Barros, Terence Agius, Elkin Serrano Valero Referee: Eman Grech Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spi- teri, Chris Azzopardi Additional Assistant Referees: Sandro Spiteri, Ishmael Barbara Fourth Official: Duncan Sul- tana BOV Player of the Match: Alan Da Silva Souza (Balzan) Balzan remain hopeful after a solid win against Tarxien Rainbows PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG Anderson De Barros of Balzan trying to hold on to possession