Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Sliema Wanderers 2nd with 28 points, Balzan 5th with 12, 16 apart. Recent form told a different story for Balzan: only 40th in the league over the last five rounds despite sitting 5th. Against a league average of 2.21 goals per team per game, Balzan ran at 3.2 scored and 5.4 conceded, Sliema Wanderers at 5.4 and 3.4.
Sliema Wanderers had lost four in a row.
6 previous meetings sit in the GioScore records — Balzan 1, draws 1, Sliema Wanderers 4, at 1.33 goals per meeting. The pattern favours whoever hosts: home teams have won 67% of the meetings. These meetings skew tight — only 0% saw more than two goals.
The venue was Ta'Qali National Stadium, with room for 17,797 spectators. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Sliema Wanderers led 2-0 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 2-3.
Goal scorers
Balzan: Tristan Caruana (81'), Gianluca Cacciatore (90') · Sliema Wanderers: Vito Plut (17'), Vito Plut (35'), Adam Magri Overend (57')
Key stats
Possession: Balzan 38% · Sliema Wanderers 62% · Total shots: 2-3 · On target: 2-3 · Corners: 3-7