Valletta-Floriana 1-0

Massimo Grima’s headed goal during six minutes of added time awarded by referee Zammit, sent Floriana reeling to their third consecutive league defeat in the Championship Pool.

It was a narrow but deserved victory for Valletta who dominated for long spells during the second period after Floriana were reduced to ten men, following Farrugia’s dismissal five minutes into the second half, but needed more than 90 minutes to penetrate the opponents’ blanket cover.

The Greens can count themsleves unlucky not to have taken a point after surviving for so long with a mixture of fortune, plucky defending and supreme reliability from Rueben Gauci in goal. Undoubtedly the excessive added minutes let them down at the end.

Floriana were handicapped without the presence of Da Silva in midfield as Cassar started on the bench and only went in as a second half substitute.

The first half was lacking of real goalmouth action and for the first 45 minutes both goalkeepers remained mostly inoperative.

There were only a few half chances at both ends but both sets of defences prevailed in the circumstances.

To Evi Parker fell Floriana’s best opportunities but he fluffed them all as his finishing inside the area lacked the required precision, to prolong his side’s goal drought of late.

Valletta, who were denied by Azzopardi’s intervention on an insidious Agius low cross from the byeline on the quarter hour, scored on 33 minutes when Forace netted the loose ball following Debono’s headed effort, but the goal was disallowed for the scorer’s offside position.

Shortly after, Debono arrived late on Oretan’s cross from the right and before half time Valletta’s defender Cassar was injured and forced to be substituted, making way for the returning Bondin.

Five minutes into the second half, Floriana were delivered a blow when their midfielder Farrugia was sent off for his foul on Bondin, earning him a second caution.

Vallletta immediately tried to exploit their numerical superiority, throwing themselves on the offensive. Oretan robbed Azzopardi of the ball, advanced and unleashed a powerful shot, narrowly off target.

On 54 minutes Valletta had their penalty claims turned down after Grima was pulled down by Craig Schembri inside the area. Grima flicked the ball towards goal on an Agius long cross but keeper Gauci was alert to save into a corner and then Grima shot Galea’s pass against the side netting.

On the hour Camilleri went in for Forace and two minutes later Galea was susbtituted by Zammit as the Citizens continued to surge relentlessly forward.

On 68 minutes, Gauci stretched himself to turn Grima’s weighted free-kick into another corner.

Floriana’s fort held out as Valletta poured crosses from both flanks. On 78 minutes Agius headed a Grima corner over.

The Greens failed to exploit their opponents’ openings at the back as Evi Parker looked completely inept in his side’s rare breakaways.

On the other end, Zammit mishit Agius’ cross in front of goal and when Floriana looked capable of surviving Valletta’s onslaught, the Citizens broke the deadlock six minutes into added time. Massino Grima ended up his side’s hero as he towered himself inside the Floriana crowded area to head in a corner from the left and send the Valletta supporters in euphoric raptures.