Floriana-Pieta H 1-2
Floriana: I. Akpan, M. Saleh, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, M. Vella (D. Agius 46’), J. Cabral, C. Failla, J. Pisani, A. Cini (C. Borg 69’), A. Oyama (I. Guberac 46’), E. Marcellina.
Pieta H: N. Vella, T. Ose, T. Bartolo (J.M. Artiaga 90’), N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius, P. Chimezie, J. Busuttil (C. Degabriele 88’), G. Mensah (S. Nakamura 79’), C. Grech, I. Jalo, A. Macedo.
Referee: Etienne Mangion
Ass. Referees: Alan Camilleri, Christopher Francalanza
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Scorers: J. Cabral 5’ pen, P. Chimezie 55’ pen, S. Nakamura 85’
Yellow cards: N. Vella, N. Pace Cocks, A. Cini, E. Ruiz, M. Saleh,
Player of the match: Paul Chimezie
TMI Best Three: 1. P. Chimezie, 2. N. Pace Cocks, 3. C. Failla
Substitute Shunsuke Nakamura scored a great goal five minutes from time to give Pieta a comeback win against Floriana, for the second victory of the season. It was a well-deserved victory for Ramon Zammit’s side as they were the better team especially in the second half.
Till the 85th minute two very dubious penalties were settling this encounter, with Floriana taking an early lead and with Pieta obtaining the equaliser early in the second half. The first half was very scrappy with Floriana holding a slight edge, but unable to score a second goal.
In the second half Pieta were the better team as they played on the offensive after obtaining the equaliser and were rewarded five minutes from time with Nakamura’s well taken goal.
Both teams were coming from defeats in their last outings with Floriana defeated by Balzan with second half goals and Pieta smarting from the four-goal hammering against the champions. Coach Luis Oliveira made some changes to the side, with Varela out injured, and with Mauricio Vella back in the side. Alex Cini was in the initial line up too with Clyde Borg relegated to the substitute’s bench.
Pieta coach Ramon Zammit made two initial changes from the side that lost against Valletta, with Shunsuke Nakamura and Artiaga on the reserves bench and with Paul Chimezie and Dylan Agius in the starting line up.
Barely five minutes gone and Floriana were in front when Cabral lost balance after a tackle by Macedo, with the referee opting for the penalty and from the spot Cabral’s low drive was partially blocked by Vella, but the ball just rolled over the goal line and into the net.
Six minutes later Pieta’s first sign in attack when Jan Busuttil’s drive just went over the bar. The match failed to lift off with the Greens in control but never near a reassuring second goal, and with Pieta unable to worry the Greens rearguard, apart from a Neil Pace Cocks shot from a distance on the half hour.
Finally on 38 minutes Floriana had a good move on the left flank with Oyama’s cross headed over the bar by Jurgen Pisani. Five minutes from the break a Clayton Failla freekick went wide.
On the resumption Oliveira left Maurizio Vella and Oyama in the dressing room and Daniel Agius, and Ivica Guberac were romped in. On 54 minutes another highly disputed penalty this time in the Floriana penalty area when Paul Chimezie was tripped by Saleh, with the referee again pointing for the penalty spot, and the same Paul Chimezie converted in style, sending Akpan the wrong way.
Pieta were now playing better and Pace Cocks blasted over the bar from an ideal position after a good run by Chimezie. On 64 minutes an Ose freekick went slightly over the bar. Four minutes later Gabriel Mensah missed a golden opportunity hesitating in front of goal with only Akpan to beat.
Floriana appealed for a second penalty and on 83 minutes Akpan saved his side with a great save off a Jan Busuttil effort. But Pieta forged ahead on 85 minutes when Neil Pace Cocks passed towards substitute Shunsuke Nakamura who fired home with a great shot.
Photos: Trever Sollars