ST ANDREWS 1
FLORIANA 3
Floriana came from behind yesterday to beat stubborn opponents St Andrews, cancelling out an early deficit with goals from Mario Fontanella, substitute Steve Pisani and Amadou Samb in the second period.
The Greens can be credited for their resolve for summoning enough pressure to win the match after a lacklustre first half
Their platform shows six points from six but in terms of the team’s energy levels and attacking zest there has to be more to come from Giovanni Tedesco’s team.
St Andrews were really flexible and defensively organised and played football, had good moments with passing and direction. They wre found lacking in the final third though.
Floriana coach had to slightly alter his formation with the introduction of three new players. Ryan Camenzuli started as left back and Argentine Enzo Ruiz as centre back alongside Enrico Pepe. Andre Sci cluna was shifted to right back.
Other newcomer Ignacio Varela played as central striker and was supported by wide players Mario Fontanella and Amadou Samb.
St Andrews, who also gave a debut start to wide player from Croatia, Ante Bakmaz, were off to a surpise start, taking the lead after only six minutes of playing time. They won a Paz corner from the right that created panic isnide the crowded Floriana area as Godwin McKay somehow deflected the ball in between the upright and the grounded keeper Haber.
Floriana, visibly shocked, struggled to keep themselves going. Apart from a Chiesa powerful drive, that Saints’ keeper Jake Galea responded well, turning the ball over the bar into a corner, and another Samb header from a tight angle on a Vella free kick, the Greens rarely looked threatening during the first 45 minutes.
St Andrews stayed composed, putting seven or eight men behind the ball and dominating high balls, with the towering presence of Kesinovic and Johnson, whenever Floriana raked in the crosses.
Floriana needed a response, a shot of energy, of inspiration after the break. They substituted Vella with Steve Pisani and immediately drew level hardly four minutes into the second half. Mario Fontanella chested a Chiesa long ball, turned around his marker and beat keeper Galea at the far post.
Fontanella had another chance towards the hour as he ran through the middle on Pisani’s pass but was thwarted by the onrushing Saints keeper.
St Andrews did not panic but were living dangerously especially when Floriana started to mount some sustained pressure as Chiesa became more influential.
In fact the Saints succumbed to concede a second goal ten minutes from time. Varela laid a square pass for substitute Steve Pisani to beat the keeper with a drilling shot from the edge of the area.
Sensing that they were home and dry, Floriana held on to the Saints’ flacid reaction and on the stroke of full time they struck again. Amadou Samb, who had a poor match, twisted and turned around the onrushing Saints keeper inside the area, lobbing the ball into an unattended goal to add some excessive gloss to the Floriana win.
St Andrews: J. Galea, M. Johnson, K. Kesinovic, B. Che (R. Darmanin), F. Udoh, G. McKay, A. Bakmaz (D. Camilleri), J. Farrugia, N. Belacevic, K. Nwoko (J. Walker), I. Paz
Floriana: J. Haber. A. Scicluna (A. Cini), E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, C. Borg, I. Varela, M. Vella (S. Pisani), A. Samb, N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella (B. Farrugia), R. Camenzuli
Referee: S. Pace
Assst. Refs: M. Scerri, S. Attard
4th official: A.M. Sant
Scorers: G. McKay 6, M. Fontanella 49, S. Pisani 80, A. Samb 90
Yellow cards: I. Paz, A. Scicluna, M. Johnson, S. Pisani, C. Borg
Player of the match: N. Chiesa (Floriana)
TMI top 3: 1. N. Chiesa 2. K. Kesinovic 3. J. Galea
Photos James Bianchi
HAMRUN SPARTANS 1
GZIRA UNITED 1
This much awaited clash between the two promoted sides, who were the First Division protagonists last season, ended all sqaure.
But both Hamrun Sparatns and Gzira United need to make further progress if they are to survive the strains of the Premier League.
The match was played with great endeavour but lacked quality in the final third.
It was a match of two halves. Gzira had the edge in the firts 45 minutes and took a deserve lead through Tony Machedo Neto.
After a flat first-half performance, Hamrun improved in the second period and managed to draw level, by Jorginho, one of their two new Brazilians which were introduced as the match progressed.
A draw was a fair result in the final analysis.
Both teams had encouraging starts to the new season. Hamrun beat Hibernians and Gzira drew with Tarxien Rainbows. So both coaches felt the obligation to leave their teams unchanged.
They began in understandably cagey mode, the focus on organisation only interrupted after 13 minutes when Ledesma found space inside the Hamrun rearguard and his attempted audacious effort was deflected against the upright and into a corner.
It took the teams some time to combine with any other real menace. Towards the half hour, an erratic square pass by Gatt Baldacchino allowed Spiteri to advance through the middle but he shot wide.
On 37 minutes Gzira, who had been showing more enterprise, deservedly took the lead. Borg’s powerful shot from a distance was tipped into a corner by the Hamrun shot stopper. From the resultant Ledesma corner, Tony Neto hit the ball in from close range.
Besides falling behind, Hamrun were also forced to substitute the injured Patrick Texeira with other Brazilian Mesqueu Neto Jorge (Jorginho). Ryan Spiteri took a wider role as the substitute played in front of the defence.
Hamrun tried to challenge Gzira to break them down after the interval. They put in Leandro Motta for Spiteri on 56 minutes and Chircop stung keeper Jurgen Borg’s palm with a powerful shot. Another Mifsud Triganza free kick was held out by the outstretched Gzira keeper.
Gzira were clinging on, penned inside their half and threatening with fast breaks. But Robert De Pinho looked too isolated up front.
Hamrun’s substitutes combined well on 66 minutes for the equalising goal. Motta delivered a free kick from the right for Jorginho to score with a firm header.
Gzira substituted De Pinho with John Nwoba after that. Nevertheless, Hamrun still slightly held the upperhand although both sides looked happy with a draw. A point apiece leaves them both unbeaten so far.
Hamrun S: D. Cassar, P. Chircop, G. Azzopardi, M. A. Borg, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, L. Sciberras, L. Grech, P. Texeira (M. Jorge), J. Grech, R. Spiteri (L. Motta), S. Nanapare
Gzira U: Jurgen Borg, J. Da Silva Santos (D. Falzon), G. Conti, R. Ledesma, C. Gatt Baldacchino, M. Avila Perez, Jacob Borg, S. Diamoutene, A. Machedo Neto ‘Tony’, Y. Tonna (K. Pulo), R. De Pinho (J. Nwoba)
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst refs: W. Debattista, J. Spiteri
4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers: Tony Machedo Neto 37, Jorginho 66
Yellow cards: C. Gatt Baldacchino, P. Chircop, Jacob Borg, Tony, Jorginho, L. Sciberras, M. Avila Perez
Player of the match: Jorginho (Hamrun S)
TMI top 3: 1. R. Ledesma 2. M. Jorge Jorginho 3. S. Diamoutene
Attendance: 790