BOV Premier League - Balzan FC 0-0 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 3rd February 2020
Birkirkara FC and Balzan FC shared the spoils in a goalless draw in a match from the BOV Premier League played at the National Stadium on Monday evening.
In a drab encounter, both teams had their moments and their chances but failed to find the net and a point each can be considered as a fair result for both sides. For the Stripes, this was the third clean-sheet in the last four league matches.
This match marked the inclusion of Paul Mbong who was named in the first-eleven selection for the first time in his career. The promising forward, who still forms part of the U19 Team, replaced the injured Caio Rocha.
The Birkirkara Coach also named Claudio Bonanni in his starting XI replacing the injured Kurt Zammit while Ryan Fenech returned from a minor injury and replaced the suspended Cain Attard.
The First Half
Balzan created the first scoring chance of the match after six minutes when Arthur Faria delivered an excellent cross on the first post that found Luke Montebello who had his header pushed away by goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.
Birkirkara made an instant reaction hardly a minute later when Federico Falcone made fine footwork before his powerful shot was blocked by goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
The Stripes went close to take the lead in the nineteenth minute. Briffa made a fine run down the right flank before executing an excellent cross in the path of towering forward Federico Falcone who had his header ending just over the bar.
Balzan had a dangerous free-kick ten minutes from time and stepped up the tried-and-tested Ricardo Correa who struck a wonderful curling drive that ended wide by inches with Hogg beaten.
The Second Half
Twenty minutes inside the second half, after Coach Paus had included Yankam for Bezzina, former Spain National Team player Diego Capel was included as Birkirkara's second substitute for youngster Paul Mbong.
The Balzan Coach, Jacques Scerri, replied by his first substitution as he introduced forward Alfred Effiong for Luke Montebello as the Balzan Coach sought for a fresh pair of legs in his attacking department.
The veteran player of the Maltese National Team almost made an immediate impact just three minutes after being introduced as he rose high to collect a cross from the left but his header ended wide.
Balzan created another fine scoring chance on the seventy-ninth minute when Steven Bezzina showed great skill to avoid the challenge of Isaac Ntow and hit a powerful shot that was blocked by Hogg.
From the resulting corner, the Stripes made a swift counter-attack with Guillaumier sending Falcone through and the Birkirkara forward's low shot scratched past the post.
Four minutes from time, Birkirkara goalkeeper Andrew Hogg produced an excellent save as he dived full-stretch to deny Uros Ljubomirac as both teams had to settle for a point.
Stefan Dimic of Balzan was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BALZAN: Kristijan Naumovski, Dale Camilleri, Nenad Slijivic, Steven Bezzina, Michael Johnson, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Stefan Dimic (81' Samir Arab), Ricardo Correa, Arthur Faria, Luke Montebello (67' Alfred Effiong).
BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Enrico Pepe, Matthew Guillaumier, Paul Mbong (67' Diego Capel), Johann Bezzina (57' Yannick Yankam), Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Claudio Bonanni, Oscar Matias Carniello, Ryan Fenech, Isaac Ntow.
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Duncan Spencer.
Fourth Official: Etienne Mangion.
Yellow Cards: 43' Johann Bezzina (Birkirkara), Ivan Bozovic (Balzan).
Scorers: None.
BOV Player of the Match: Stefan Dimic (Balzan).
Photo: Dominic Borg.
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