A first-half goal was enough for Balzan to take all spoils against Gudja United. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
BALZAN 1
Mijic 18
GUDJA UNITED 0
BALZAN
J. Galea-6, A. Loof-5.5, M. Grima-6, P. Fenech-5.5 (52 M. Djuric), A. Da Paixao-6.5 (84 S. Jalu), M. Johnson-6, U. Ljubomirac-6.5, M. Zlatkovic-6 (84 G. Camilleri), M. Mijic-6.5, B. Kaljevic-5.5 (59 A. Andrejic), S. Cipriott-6 (84 N. Frendo).
GUDJA UNITED
G. Zammit-6, L. Beland-5.5 (86 L. Grech), A. Friggieri-6 (72 J. Dibola), R. Soares-6, L. Cremona-6, G. Mensah-6 (86 F. Pankarican), H. Vella, F. Zuniga-5.5, J. Grioli-6 (82 K. Gatt), T. Abdul-5.5, M. Dias-6.
Referee: Andrea Sciriha.
Yellow card: Camilleri
Red Cards: Vella (G) 10.
BOV Player of the Match: Milos Mijic (Balzan).
Antoine Busuttil
Centenary Stadium
After beating Gzira United last week, Balzan earned another three points thanks to a narrow win over Gudja United.
Making his debut for Balzan was coach Paul Zammit who was probably expecting a more emphatic win considering that Gudja United were reduced to ten men after just ten minutes.
Gudja still managed to give a good account of themselves but could not avoid a third consecutive defeat which leaves them in the lower part of the table.
Gudja coach Thane Micallef named an unchanged side while Paul Zammit replaced the injured Samir Arab with Augustine Loof.
After just ten minutes, referee Andrea Sciriha was forced to send off Gudja captain Vella for handling the ball as Alex Alves was heading all alone towards the area following a long pass by goalkeeper Jake Galea.
Balzan wasted no time to forge ahead as eight minutes later, Bojan Kaljevic advanced upfield and served Alves whose assist saw Mijic hitting low past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit from the edge of the area.
Gudja replied with an Aidan Friggieri freekick from the left which ended just over the bar on 34 minutes and a minute later, the same player went close with another attempt from outside the area.
Balzan tried to push harder for a second goal after the break and early in the second half, Mijic, served by Marcus Grima, had a low shot neutralised by Zammit.
Soon after, the Serbian delivered a freekick from the left, Ljubomirac headed the ball down for Kaljevic whose shot was neutralised by the Gudja goalkeeper.
Substitute Aleksa Andrejic missed a good opportunity on 63 minutes when served by Zlatkovic from the left.
Eight minutes later, Andrejic received an assist by Ljubomirac but Zammit turned the ball into a corner.
Finally, one minute from time, Suleiman Jalu, served by Ljubomirac from the right, had a close-range effort blocked by the Gudja custodian.
