This City and Suburb derby, as in the first round, was watched by a large crowd. Floriana managed to register a double after having won 4-0 in the first round.

The Greens had the Lion’s share of exchanges in the first period but the Citizens pressed hard for an equalizer after resumption, but found the Greens rearguard a very hard nut to crack, their forwards were very erratic in their conclusions and Greens keeper Daniel Said had very few easy shots to deal with.

The goal that mattered came from a blunder by the City keeper who despite is about six foot tall failed to neutralise a high ball from a freekick which seemed to be easy prey for him.

All the actions in the first period came from Floriana as Valletta tried to operate on the break but they found little or no space in the Greens midfield sector where Clyde Borg was excellent in his interceptions and clearances and also found time to help his forwards.

Greg Marney was fouled on the left edge of City’s area by being pulled from his shirt, and from the freekick shot by Warren Cardona the ball hit the defensive barrier. Karl Azzopardi served Cardona with a through ball on the right flank and from the latter’s cross the ball finished over the bar.

In the 10th minute Valletta had a narrow escape as keeper Jurgen Sant fumbled the ball from a freekick shot by Clive Farrugia and the ball was cleared on the fatal line from the rebound shot by Cardona.

In the 13th minute Floriana forged ahead. Clive Farrugia floated a high ball in Valletta’s area from a freekick and as Sant came out to smother the ball, which he failed to do, and Sacha Borg managed to get the back of his head to the ball and it ended behind Sant and in the back of the net.

There was only one more action worthy of note before the half time whistle as play was restricted to the midfield sector. Warren Cardona served Clyde Borg with a square pass from the left and Sant managed to save his shot from outside the area.

The Citizens were a totally different outfit after resumption being more direct and sharp in their approaches but they could not find the net as they were very erratic in their conclusions.

The first action came from Floriana when Glenn Agius floated a perfect ball in City’s area from a freekick and Sant saved a header by Sacha Borg, and minutes later he saved a low shot by Matthew Caruana after entering the area following a short freekick pass by Cardona, at the other end, a well-taken flagkick by George Attard created havoc in Floriana’s area but the ball was somehow cleared to safety.

After a run down the left flank by Glenn Agius he crossed to Greg Marney after beating a defender and Sant saved the latter’s header, and from San’s drop-kick to Leon Camilleri he served Cachel Vella with a through ball in the area but he drove the ball over the bar.

The last action before the final whistle also came from Valletta when Dylan Zammit was fouled on the right edge of the area and from the freekick shot by the same player the ball was blocked by the defensive barrier and was eventually cleared to safety.

Referee -Adrian Caruana

Player of the match – Glenn Agius (Floriana)

APS Bank U/16 Section B

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Two red cards in keen derby

Mosta 3

Naxxar L 1

This northern derby was watched by a sizeable crowd giving vociferous support during the whole game. Mosta managed to register a double after a narrow 1-0 victory in the first round, they enjoyed the Lion’s share of exchanges during both periods and fully deserved the verdict.

Referee Jonathan Bonello had a very difficult encounter to control, which he did with flying colours and was very correct in showing six yellow and two red cards.

Mosta were the first to threaten, Sergio Dimech served Jonathan Muscat with a through ball in the area but the ball sailed over the bar from his shot and form a flagkick by Gianluca Vella the ball was partially cleared and Mark Vassallo drove out from the rebound shot. In a Naxxar reaction, Karl Tanti served Anthony Spiteri with a through ball in the area but Mark Vassallo cleared the ball to corner.

In a quick reaction by Mosta they created four occasions in succession. Jonathan Muscat served Stefan Debattista with a cross from the left but Naxxar keeper Jonathan Bilocca neutralised the ball, Mark Vassallo, up with his forwards, served Jonathan Muscat on the right flank, the latter crossed to Debattista who back-passed to James Scerri and the latter’s shot missed the bar by inches, after a freekick by Dimech, the ball skimmed the bar from a header by Lyden Micallef and from a flagkick by Vella the ball was partially cleared and the ball was cleared on the line from the rebound shot by Jonathan Muscat.

Mosta keeper Jurgen Muscat saved a header by Adrian Fenech after a freekick shot by Clive Borg Bonaci, while at the other end, from a flagkick from the left flank by Vella the ball hit the base of the upright of the near post and a defender managed to clear the danger.

Chris Sant was shown the yellow card for a late tackle on Naxxar defender Shaun Camilleri. Jurgen Muscat was forced to dive and save a shot by Fenech after a square pass by Camilleri.

A minute before the half time whistle Mosta opened the score. Dimech served Jonathan Muscat with a through ball in the area and as Bilocca came out of his charge to foil him which he did, but he fouled Muscat by stretching his left foot in his chest, the referee pointed to the spot and showed the yellow card to Bilocca. Muscat took charge of the kick and Bilocca partially saved his shot but not the rebound by the same player.

The first action after restart came from Mosta. Substitute Gianluca Theuma served Debattista in the area and Bilocca partially saved his shot and the ball was cleared, at the other end, Fenech served Andy Bartolo in the area but his shot missed the upright. Bilocca had to dive to save a header by Muscat after a cross from the right by Alex Cini.

Naxxar were reduced to 10 men in the 50th minute as Karl Tanti was shown the red card after a second bookable offence. Mosta doubled on 52 minutes as Jonathan Muscat won a loose ball on the left flank and entered the area after beating two defenders and lobbed the ball in the roof of the net from a very acute angle. James Scerri became the next offender to be entered in the official’s black book after a late tackle on Naxxar player Anthony Spiteri, Mosta player Gianluca Vella followed suit minutes later for passing remarks to the referee and substitute Gianluca Theuma was also shown the yellow card for arguing the referee’s decision.

The score became 3-0 in the 65th minute as Alex Cini served Chris Sant with a perfect cross from the left and he netted with a flying header. Mosta were awarded another penalty in the 72nd minute. Substitute Charlton Bugeja served Jonathan Muscat with a cross from the left flank who was floored after entering the area.

The kick was taken by Sergio Dimech and the ball, from his hard grounder hit the left foot of Bilocca and ended over the bar. Naxxar scored a consolation goal three minutes from time when Anthony Spiteri served Fenech in the area who netted with a grounder after beating a defender and two minutes before the end Naxxar were reduced to nine men as Borg Bonaci was shown the red card for passing remarks to the referee.

Referee – Jonathan Bonello

Player of the match – Jonathan Muscat (Mosta)