Floriana 1
Marsaxlokk 0
Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, J. Pace, R. Buhagiar, K. Mamo, M. Ochei (E. Thornton), I. Zammit, T. Templeman, C. Magro (S. Georgiev), C. Mamo (D. Camilleri), M. Trendafilov, C. Paiber.
Floriana: R. Gauci, R. Gango Rtsa, I. Azzopardi, M. Caruana, A. da Silva, C. Ciantar, T. Cilia, C. Cassar, M. Micallef, S. Wellman (M. Brincat), N. Baldacchino.
Referee: P. Caruana. Asst Refs: M. Debono, C. Micallef. 4th official: AM Sant.
Scorer: A. Da Silva pen,
Yellow cards: Trendafilov, M. Ochei, N. Baldacchino, R. Gango Rtsa,
Red cards: I. Zammit, C. Ciantar.
Player of the match: A. Da Silva.
TMI Top 3: 1. R. Gauci; 2. M. Caruana; 3. C. Magro.
An Andre Rocha Da Silva penalty midway through the second half provided three very precious points for Floriana yesterday.
The result, in fact, means that Floriana are very close to booking their berth in the forthcoming Championship Pool in the second phase, while Marsaxlokk still have a lot to work upon to avoid the Relegation Pool.
The two sides had some players missing. Marsaxlokk had Ivan Casha, Malcolm Licari and David Camilleri relegated to the substitutes’ bench while Floriana had Mauro Brincat sitting it out through Gango Rtsa was back after a long absence through injury. Brincat later entered as a substitute.
In the first half, play rarely enthused those present as two two sides were cautious in their approach with the consequence that play was mostly restricted to midfield.
Neither side managed to test the respective goalkeepers seriously except on the occasion of Marsaxlokk’s penalty where Reuben Gauci came out with flying colours.
In the second half, play improved a little but it was the Greens who eventually scored what proved to be an important winner, Andre Da Silva converting a penalty.
TheGreens’ joy at the end was justified as they are now on 22 points and knocking on the Championship Pool door.
The match had a quiet start as both sides sized each other in midfield, but in their first real attack on 20 minutes, Marsaxlokk were awarded a penalty when Ian Azzopardi handled a Paiber cross in the area.
Referee Caruana showed no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot. But Floriana goalie Reuben Gauci covered himself with glory as he saved Paiber’s angled shot.
Neither side appeared to have any kind of superiority and a lot of midfield play ensued until added injury time when a shot from 20 metres from Andre Rocha da Silva just missed the target.
At the start of the second half, Floriana started on a more aggressive note and had a Baldacchino semi-rovesciata being cleared by Zammit, although the ball would have probably gone wide.
In another move, Manolito Micallef managed a low, angled drive, but Reuben Debono palmed the ball out.
At the other end, Reuben Gauci again brought the house down with a great, spectacular save off a Jamie Pace humdinger.
On 77 minutes, Floriana took the lead. And it had to be another penalty for the ball to finally land at the back of the net – at Marsaxlokk’s end. Referee Caruana ordered the penalty after Ivan Zammit played the custodian’s role, handling the ball on the line with Debono beaten on a fine effort by Manolito Micallef. Ivan Zammit was sent off for his pains and Andre Rochda Da Silva converted in style to give the Greens the upper hand.
On the 88th minute, Floriana also ended in 10 men as Clifton Ciantar was shown a red card after a second bookable offence.
In added time, Floriana almost added a third goal when substitute Mauro Brincat advanced unhindered from midfield only to see Reuben Debono rushing out of his charge to block his effort.