Floriana 1
Hamrun S. 1
Floriana: I. Akpan, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani (S. Pisani 44), I. Varela (D. Agius 60), T. Galvao da Silva, U Arias, A. Oyama, E. Herrera, E. Cesani, T. Vella (J. Pisani 69), E. Marcellina
Hamrun S.: E. Bartolo, N. Monticelli, E. Pepe, T. Caruana, S. Nayar, W. Domoraud, M. Gauci, M. Criaco, R. Darmanin (K. Schembri 78), C. Calil, K.Tulimieri
Referee: M. Apap
Asst refs: R. Vella, W. Debattista
4th official: Emm. Grech
Scorers: A. Oyama 34, W. Domoraud 80
Yellow cards: E. Pepe 48
Player of the match: A. Oyama
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Oyama, 2. E. Marcellina, 3. E. Pepe
Attendance: 438
Floriana and Hamrun shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw yesterday at Ta' Qali in the opening match of the second round.
Arthur Oyama put the Greens ahead after 34 minutes but Wilfried Domoraud scored Hamrun's equaliser 10 minutes from the end.
Floriana were seeking to taste sweet revenge over the Spartans after the FA Trophy elimination last month.
The point sees Hamrun in 4th place on 26 points, one ahead of Sliema. Floriana have joined St Andrews in 8th place on 16 points. Both teams have obviously played a match more than the other 12 teams.
Floriana coach Guido Ugolotti paraded three newcomers in his starting line-up: Edward Herrera, who joined in this January transfer market from Birkirkara, Argentine Ulises Jose Arias and Spaniard Ezequiel Cesani.
On their part, Spartans boss Giovanni Tedesco fielded his typical formation.
Floriana ended the first half 1-0 ahead, but it was mostly a balanced period with both sides having their good and ugly moments.
In fact, there was a grand opening 10 minutes, but then the two teams slowed down their rhythm to an extent that neither team managed a single decent shot for more than 20 minutes.
In fact, we had to wait till the final 12 minutes to see more action on both goals. And that included the goal with which Floriana went for a rest in the lead.
In the second half, Floriana elected to defend their slender lead therefore handing the initiative to the Spartans.
But despite their midfield dominance, Hamrun had little to show for all their efforts and it was Floriana who could have increased their lead on more than one occasion after some fast and dangerous breaks.
And they paid dearly for their lapses as Hamrun obtained an equaliser 10 minutes from time. After all it was deserved as neither team deserved to lose.
In the third minute, Floriana went close to open the scoring when from a Steven Pisani cornerkick, Varela had a good header turned to corner in style and with difficulty by Bartolo.
On eight minutes, Hamrun responded with a low shot by Tulimieri which went just wide.
On 26 minutes, in another Hamrun attack, Tulimieri crossed perfectly for Ryan Darmanin whose fine header went slightly over the bar.
Five minutes later, as Hamrun insisted, a Criaco grounder just missed the target following a Calil cross.
But it was Floriana who opened the scoring on 34 minutes. Nayar missed his clearance and Arthur Oyama could advance unhindered in the Spartans area to beat Bartolo with a rising shot.
Hamrun were unlucky not to equalise on 42 minutes. From a Caruana freekick, it was again Darmanin who saw his header beating Akpan, but the ball hit the upright and was eventually cleared by Marcellina from near the goalline.
In the second half, on 55 minutes, a cross shot by Tulimieri had Akpan in difficulty but the Greens goalie managed to turn to corner.
At the other end, Floriana missed a good chance to increase their lead when Galvao da Silva set newcomer Daniel Agius, but the latter hit wide from a favourable position.
Floriana again missed another good chance when Galvao da Silva tried to dribble one player too many in the Hamrun area and his final effort was blocked by a Spartans defender.
In the 72nd minute, it was substitute Jurgen Pisani who tested goalie Bartolo, but the Spartans goalie saved.
Soon after, Arias dribbled one player after another but then saw his final volley going wide.
The Spartans obtained the equaliser on the 80th minute. From a Tulimieri cross, it was Wilfried Domoraud who headed past Akpan to the delight of the Hamrun fans present.