Opening entertaining match ends all square
The first match of the 360 Sports Malta Premier produced some interesting moments with six goals, three penalties, a hat tick and much more. In the end a point each for neighbours Balzan and Birkirkara.
Balzan went through several changes during the close sea‐ son. Apart from Dave Rodgers replacing Oliver Spiteri as head coach they made wholesale changes to their squad.
Even their opponents Birkirkara passed practically through the same process dur‐ ing summer with coach Stefano De Angelis replacing Jose Borg and with numerous ins and outs. This was done following a rather disappointing season.
Birkirkara were first to draw first blood on 12 minutes when off an Mbong short corner to‐ wards Shaun Dimech, the lat‐ ters cross found Maxwell Maia who headed past Serbian goal‐ keeper Golovic for the Stripes opener.
But their joy was rather short lived as five minutes later Balzan drew level. The goal came from a well executed cor‐ ner by Jan Busuttil who found Henri Stanic completely un‐ marked with the Belgian having the easiests of tasks in heading the ball into the net.
For long stretches play was re‐ stricted to the midfield area with neither team setting any bushes on fire. But nearing the end of the first half the match
came to life once again.
On 40 minutes Balzan took the lead when after some good work by Akpan it was Busuttil who with some intelligence dropped the ball into Nicholas Pulis path who from the edge of the area fired past Volpe.
Birkirkara’s reaction was an immediate one and after Maia was controversely stopped for a dubious offside position, in stoppage time they drew level. Williams brought down Maxwell Maia in the area and the match official pointed to the penalty spot. From the resultant kick Maia made no mistake.
Goals keep coming regularly
and it was no surprise when five minutes into the second half Balzan went once more in the lead.
Alexander Satariano brought down Akpan in the area and the same player converted in style from the spot.
The Stripes were unlucky not to draw level when on 73 min‐ utes Paul Mbong was on the op‐ posing line to block Maxuell
Maia’s shot which was heading towards the corner of the net.
But Birkirkara were rewarded seven minutes from time when they were awarded their sec‐ ond penalty and the third of the match after Maxuell Maia was brought down by Pulis.
The Stripes striker scored his and his side’s third goal to grab a point for his side and a per‐ sonal hat trick.