Floriana-Valletta 0-2

 

Floriana: V. Senatore, D. Cobo, E. Marcelinha, S. Pisani, C. Borg (G. Galea), V. Plut, M. Piciollo, E. Briffa, B. Farrugia (I. Galea), S. Borg, S. Bonnici

Valletta: N. Vella, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, S. Borg, R. Fenech, H. Faria, R. Kooh Sohna (L. Alliyu), S. Bajada (L. Cremona), C. Caruana (A. Zahra), A. Nafti, L. Dimech

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: W. Debattista, R. Vella

Additional refs: C. Pisani, G. Tonna

4th official: A. Camilleri

Scorers: L. Alliyu 65, A. Nafti 85

Yellow cards: M. Picciollo, E. Marcelina, S. Bajada

Player of the match: R. Fenech (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Fenech  2. S. Bajada  3. D. Cobo

Attendance: 1,891

 

This derby was meant to give some injection of life into both teams’ new season after dismal results and some poor showings so far.

Thanks to this hard fought win, courtesy of late goals by susbtitute Lateef Alliyu and Abdel Karim Nafti, Valletta managed to turn a new leaf and instill fresh hopes that their season is finally on track.

Hugo Faria, Ryan Fenech and Shawn Bajada worked tirelessly in midfield for them yesterday as the champions tried to mix possession with more direct play. Still they lacked invention and adequate firepower in attack for long stretches.

It was only Lateef Alliyu’s introduction past the hour, that lifted their spirits as the substitute paved the way for his side’s win, scoring soon after he went in.

This first  Valletta league win must have lifted some of the pressure off coach Gilbert Agius.

Floriana though remain winless, with only one point to show after three matches.

Early optimism, following an encoraging darw against Sliema Wanderers on Saturday, eventually turned into frustration as they yet again succumbed to defeat against their rivals and neighbours.

Floriana need tio show improvement and coach Giovanni Tedesco will contemplate this as the Premier League goes into a fortnight’s break.

Valletta gave a start to their new acqusition and former Floriana player Christian Caruana, who had a poor game and was susbtituted by the hour. Luke Montebello was relegated to the bench, in he only change after a goalless draw against Tarxien Rainbows.

Floriana were an unchanged side.They stayed  composed, cautious at the back, with the central defenders Douglas Cobo and Steve Bonnici very close to each other, allowing Raphael Kooh Sohna and Caruana little space.

Kooh Sohn almost put City ahead on the quarter hour. When Faria headed Borg’s cross in his path, the Valletta forward’s shot hit the post and rolled wide.

All the promise of a fiery start soon evaporated after that though. Floriana could only threaten sporadically trying  to hit their opponents on the counter. Midway through the half, Plut twisted and turned on the edge of the Valletta area but put his final shot wide. On 36 minutes, the same player advanced on Picciolli’s pass but his low effort lacked the required power.

Valletta also created some half chances.Past the half hour Bajada’s inswing free kick was easy prey for keeper Senatore.

On 38 minutes Valletta threatened again. Nafti’s long free kick was headed out by Cobo, the ball fell to Fenech whose grounder from a distance almost caught Senatore by surprise.

The match was still goalless by the hour with both sides knocking the ball around with little purpose and hardly showing any ideas.

Valletta put in Adrian Zahra and Lateef Alliyu as susbstitutes and the latter immediately made his impact on the game. On 65 minutes, Alliyu advanced unhindered after put clear by a Bajada through ball from the final third, beat keeper Senatore with a low drive.

Floriana were shell-shocked and in no time almost conceded a second if not for a good stop by Senatore. Nafti rolled the ball square to the unmarked Alliyu but his low drive was blocked by the outstretched Floriana keeper.

But Valletta secured the points and first win with five minutes of normal time remaining. Alliyu started the move, rolling the ball towards Fenech, whose first effort was blocked inside the Floriana area, only to steer the ball to the unmarked Abdel Karim Nafti to hit it low past the helpless keeper Senatore.