Balzan Y. 0

Floriana 1

Balzan Y: F. Tabone, B. Guga, J. Francica, Y. Camilleri, R. Forace (L. Micallef), M. Deanov, D. Grima, B. Bondin (D. Fenech), F. Bernardes (N. Tasic), P. Calcado, A. Eviparker

Floriana: M. Bartolo, E. Akoto, O. Bugeja, D. Pisani, M. Micallef, P. Doffo, C. Cassar (J. Mintoff), C. Caruana, A. Grabowski, I. Woods, C. Borg (M. Licari) (J. Borg)

Referee: F. Zammit

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: A. Grabowski 54

Yellow cards: C. Caruana, A. Eviparker, C. Borg, J. Francica, P. Calcado, B. Guga

Andre Grabowski scored a goal of immeasurable importance for holders Floriana that takes them into the next round of the U*BET FA Trophy as the Greens beat Balzan Youths to keep their defence of the honour they won last season alive and kicking.

This first of three direct encounters between teams from the Premier League in the round of 16, promised some high expectations, especially because both teams are going through a vein of good form.

Floriana were always in command of the proceedings even though they struggled to beat Balzan’s organised defence and even looked wasteful at times. The Youths, with their unfit midfield mentor Nikola Tasic only playing as a second half substitute, made some late reaction after they conceded the goal but it was always a timid one and most unlikely to save them from elimination.

Floriana even contrived to miss an early penalty in the first half, during which they had the better share of possession and carved the better chances.

The best, after 12 minutes, was a penalty awarded after Woods was bundled by Eviparker inside the Balzan area as he tried to connect on a Grabowski pass. Ivan Woods, though, had his grounder rebounding off the foot of the post and back in play as Floriana’s chance went begging.

Earlier, Grabowski failed to put his header on target on Cassar’s testing cross from the left.

Past the quarter hour, Borg controlled Pisani’s cross from the right but shot feebly at the Balzan keeper Tabone, deputising for regular Matthew Camilleri.

Then again, Cassar’s deep cross from the left was fisted out by Tabone, who had to block Grabowski’s effort in the process.

Balzan rarely ventured into enemy territory, except for some run by Bernardes on the break or a couple of free kicks, won outside the area, which produced very little. On the quarter hour, after good work by Calcado from the right, Bernardes shot wide.

Floriana remained menacing even after the restart. On 51 minutes Woods lacked co ordination as he connected on a Grabowski cross and lofted the ball from a promising position.

Three minutes later the Greens finally broke the deadlock. A Doffo free kick was played by Caruana in the path of Andre Grabowski, whose first effort was blocked by the keeper but then he slotted in the loose ball.

That gave Floriana the edge. Grabowski had his shot deflected by Grima into a corner and after a good move between Licari and Woods, Cassar shot over.

Balzan’s response came in the last 25 minutes, mainly from dead ball situations as they put in Tasic for Bernardes.

On 63 minutes, Calcado’s free kick caused panic inside the Floriana area. Eviparker shot over.

On another Calcado free kick, keeper Bartolo reached out before Camilleri and with ten minutes remaining, Grima’s shot from a distance ended narrowly wide.

But Floriana could hold on to their narrow lead to progress towards the quarter final.