A point for Floriana against newcomers Melita may be gauged as some progress for the Greens under coach Stephen Azzopardi these days.
This was an opportunity for Floriana to improve upon a dismal run of four winless matches, including defeats in their last two.
But they found Melita equally hungry for points yesterday, themselves trying to make up for the 5-0 drubbing against Mosta the previous week, as they adapt to life after Martin Gregory.
Melita had the guile to fight back after falling behind early in the match and took a 2-1 lead by halftime, although they failed to hold on to a win as they were totally outplayed by their opponents in the final half hour.
Their new team manager, the Spaniard Patxi Salinas, made some effective tactical changes, with jovan Vukanic playing in a very advanced role on the right, almost as an additional third forward. Melita created enough chances to deserve their first half lead, especially with Negrin being a constanht nuisance on the right, against the struggling Brooke Farrugia.
The high work rate of Nigel Rizzo, Manuel Camacho and Matthew Borg also deserve a mention as Melita produced one of their best performances so far.
Floriana only produced their best in the final 30-minute spell, when they created three clear scoring opportunities before deservingly drawing level through a Ryan Darmanin brace. After a promising start and an early lead, they fizzled out and were second best for large parts of the game.
Injuries and suspensions deprived them of somel regulars like Kane Farrugia, Alhino, Owen Bugeja and Trevor Cilia in an always shrinking squad.
They introduced a new Brazilian, Igor Coronando, who played behind the forward line, swapping positions with Joseph Borg who was deployed in an advanced position, wide on the right flank and very much involved in his side’s build-ups.
Floriana’s lively start brought them an early lead. Melita were caught flat after only six minutes, as they tried to move out of defence on Sacha Borg’s pass and the clearance fell good to Ryan Darmanin. With his back towards goal, the Floriana striker beat keeper Sapiano with a spectacular overhead kick at the low corner.
Floriana remained the more enterprising side for the first quarter hour with Darmanin going close again, narrowly putting the ball over the bar with his shot on the turn.
Melita rolled up their sleeves though to level matters towards the quarter hour. Negrin darted inside the Floriana area on Vukanac’s flick with the shoulder and as keeper Warner rushed out to block him, the ball was deflected towards Julian Galea to knock it in from close range.
That goal sapped all of Floriana’s brittle confidence. Melita could match them in all parts of the field and even looked potent in attack as Negrin and Galea caused the Floriana defence many anxious moments. Past the half hour, Negrin laid the ball back to Galea whose grounder was deflected into a corner.
A Melita shoddy clearance on Coronado’s free kick on 35 minutes allowed Tyrone Farrugia to head towards the middle but keeper Sapiano reached out before Darmanin could connect.
On the other end Negrin cleared Galea who played the ball wide for the advancing Micallef. Keeper Warner was up to task turning his shot into a corner.
Melita were playing better and with halftime looming, they even forged ahead. The goal had a totally Spanish trade mark as Camacho played a long ball for Hose Negrin to chase, controlling the ball with his arm in the process, before unleasshing a powerful drive past keeper Warner. Floriana’s legitimate claims for a hand ball were turned down by the referee and assistant Sultana.
And within the minute of added time, Darmanin’s glancing header, off Joseph Borg’s cross, ended wide.
Floriana put in Mark Spiteri for Joseph Borg for the second period. Until the hour, Melita remained the better side. Gribbon shot over on a Vukanic teasing free kick before the Greens suddenly jerked into shape.
The Greens jerked into shape in the final half hour. Matthew Borg reached before Darmanin on Pisani’s insidious cross from the right and on 70 minutes Coronado beat the Melita defence but was thwarted by keeper Sapiano who footed out his goal bound effort.
Five minutes later a Verma free kick rebounded off the bar but Darmanin failed to put his head to the loose ball and the danger was cleared.
That heralded Floriana’s best spell of the match. Melita, who substituted Valenzia and Rizzo, tended to buckle under pressure and with ten minutes remaining, hesitancy at the back allowed their opponents to draw level. Ryan Darmanin nipped in on Clyde Borg’s low cross and knocked the ball past the static goalkeeper.
Floriana were over their opponents and the match had a fiery end as the Greens protested hotly for an alleged hand ball inside the Melita area on a Tyrone Farrugia header.
With tempers flaring from both benches, Floriana’s president Justin Attard and Melita’s team manager Salinas were dismissed before the final whistle.
Melita: M. Sapiano, G. Gribbon, I. Tufegdzic, M. Sierra Camacho, M. Borg, J. Vukanic, N. Rizzo (M. Martin), J. Galea, L. Micallef (T. Terpougoff), H. Negrin, M. Valenzia (A. Caruana Scicluna)
Floriana: T. Warner, D. Pisani, T. Farrugia, S. Borg, T. Paris, A. Verma, J. Borg (M. Spiteri), I. Coronado, C. Borg, B. Farrugia, R. Darmanin
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, D. Sultana
4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorers: R. Darmanin 6, 80, J. Galea 14, H. Negrin 45
Yellow cards: H. Negrin, N. Rizzo, S. Borg, M. Valenzia
Player of the match: H. Negrin (Melita)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Vukanic 2. H. Negrin 3. R. Darmanin