League

Birkirkara Cottage
Spectators: 6841 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1841, VIP seats: 0) Lawrence Failla started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. When Lawrence Failla came up free with the goalie in the 4th minute, the Balzan fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lawrence Failla couldn't finish the play. Nathaniel Cassar Desain recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 10th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 12 minutes into the match, Balzan's goal looked a bit too open when Nathaniel Cassar Desain came free, but Evan Lia reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lawrence Failla might have been able to make a better finish in the 18th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tarcisio Galea. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lawrence Failla ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Leo Critien in the 20th minute of play forced Birkirkara's goalkeeper Tarcisio Galea to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Evan Lia came out of the goal in the 24th minute to try and stop a shot by Birkirkara's Indrì Bisazza. But to his dismay, Indrì Bisazza quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. Balzan's Nikolai Griffin got a good chance for a goal in the 37th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Leo Critien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 44th minute, Lawrence Failla managed to get in a good position for a shot. Balzan's supporters rose to their feet, but Lawrence Failla was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tarcisio Galea breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 46 minutes into the match, Birkirkara's goal looked a bit too open when Leo Critien came free, but Tarcisio Galea reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

Evan Lia didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Nathaniel Cassar Desain went, in the 53rd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. After a defensive mix-up in Balzan's zone, Nathaniel Cassar Desain stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Evan Lia came out of the goal and Nathaniel Cassar Desain tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Evan Lia made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nathaniel Cassar Desain in the 60th minute of play. After 62 played minutes Birkirkara got a freekick which was hit by Indrì Bisazza. Leo Critien's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 64thth minute, Tarcisio Galea skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. 70 minutes into the game, Birkirkara's Indrì Bisazza nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Evan Lia made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-1. Lawrence Failla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tarcisio Galea having to interfere. 78 minutes into the match, Birkirkara's goalkeeper Tarcisio Galea had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Leo Critien. Lawrence Failla received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Tarcisio Galea tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A hard shot by Josh Cuschieri from long distance, 94 minutes into the match, got Tarcisio Galea's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Michele Cricchiola's late challenge caught a Balzan's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Michele Cricchiola helped the player get up and apologised. Michele Cricchiola kicked well hit freekick during the 95th minute of the match. Birkirkara's defense didn't have a chance, in the 96th minute, when Lawrence Failla scored to the left of an out of position Tarcisio Galea, making the score, 3-2. Balzan's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.