Floriana 1
Msida SJ 1
Floriana: R. Gauci, M. Caruana, S. Wellman, J. Briffa (R. Darmanin), I. Azzopardi, C. Ciantar, C. Cassar, T. Cilia, M. Micallef, A. Rocha da Silva, M. Brincat.
Msida SJ: P. Psaila, T. Farrugia, D. Theuma, J. Mifsud, C. Micallef, P. Fenech, K. Sammut, D. Cachia, D. Nwoke, M. Porceddu (T. Farrugia), J. Zammit.
Referee: R. Buontempo, Asst. Refs: J. Rapa, C. Micallef. 4th official: C. Lautier
Scorers: A. Rocha da Silva, J. Zammit,
Yellow cards: K. Sammut, T. Farrugia.
Player of the match: M. Porceddu.
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Porceddu; 2. K. Sammut; 3. M. Caruana.
Floriana and Msida yesterday shared the spoils in a match which the Greens needed to win to make sure of a place in the top six.
However, they will now have to wait further as they still can be overtaken by Pieta who still have to play two matches.
Despite knowing their fate after Marsaxlokk’s win in the previous match, Msida offered serious opposition to the Greens.
They were still missing the services of Omar Borg, Adrian Mifsud, Patrick Guia and Manuel Boni, all suspended. Moreover, with the injuries to some of their other players – Sciberras, Bajada and Cauchi –they only presented a squad of 16 players yesterday.
Play was more or less balanced but both defences appeared to be above their respective front lines, although Msida appeared to be more dangerous when they atacked.
Mario Caruana, on one side, and Daniel Theuma, at the other, dominated at the back, but Msida had a very hard-working midfield in which Porceddu and Kevin Sammut never stopped running.
Early on, new goalie Psaila turned to corner a dangerous Brincat freekick. Soon after from a Brincat cross, Ian Azzopardi had a header hitting the post. On 11 minutes, Zammit headed forward for Nwoke who lobbed over the advancing Gauci only to see the ball just missing the upright. Trevor Cilia had a shot going just over and Brincat had a fine dipper turned to corner in fine style by Psaila. At the other end, Porceddu received a long ball only to see his shot hitting the upright. On 34 minutes, Floriana were awarded a penalty when Manolito Micallef was floored by Tyrone Farrugia. From the spotkick, Andre Rocha da Silva made no mistake.
Msida equalised on 40 minutes. From a Kevin Sammut freekick, Johann Zammit headed home .
On 49 minutes, a Da Silva header to his goalie was pounced upon by Porceddu but the Italian’s effort was blocked to corner by Gauci.
On 57 minutes, a Porceddu freekick was punched sideways by Rueben Gauci. At the other end, a Brincat freekick went just over on 70 minutes. Just before the end of normal time, Daniel Nwoke missed a sitter for Msida as he hit wide with an open goal at his mercy when scoring appeared to have been an easier job after Gauci had only partially saved a Porceddu cross.