Mellieha: D. Vella, F. Vella, L. Cauchi (Ray Vella), W. Borg, H. Vella, K. Gauci, S. Costa Brasilino (I. Tarek), K. Spiteri, R. Vella, W. Borg St John, G. Calabretta
Referee: A. Arciola asst.refs: I. Spiteri, M. Debono 4th official: P. Caruana
Scorers: D. Krsteski (2), Y. Bolasie (3), M. Micallef, C. Caruana, I. Tarek
Yellow cards: F.Vella
Mellieha: D. Vella, F. Vella, L. Cauchi (Ray Vella), W. Borg, H. Vella, K. Gauci, S. Costa Brasilino (I. Tarek), K. Spiteri, R. Vella, W. Borg St John, G. Calabretta
Referee: A. Arciola asst.refs: I. Spiteri, M. Debono 4th official: P. Caruana
Scorers: D. Krsteski (2), Y. Bolasie (3), M. Micallef, C. Caruana, I. Tarek
Yellow cards: F.Vella
Floriana carried too much ammunition for First Division side Mellieha and won easily 7-1 to advance to the second round of the U*BET FA Trophy when they barely needed to break sweat.
For all their good intent, Mellieha, with all their limitations, gave their all, but were not good enough to disturb superior opponents and were on the backfoot throughout. The final score line highlights the gulf between the two sides.
Floriana, starting as firm favourites, took no risks. Coach Doncic fielded his best eleven, with Mauro Brincat preferred to Trevor Cilia. And two goals within the first 17 minutes put them firmly in control. With only two minutes on the clock, Darko Krsteski rifled in a low free kick from the edge of the area on the right and then the same player headed in Brincat’s corner kick after the Mellieha keeper Vella had saved another Cassar powerful free kick.
Floriana held the upper hand and kept pressing their opponents inside their own half. Midway through the half, Micallef connected well on Bolasie’s cross from the left but failed to put his shot on target.
With Mellieha mostly bystanders, it was no surprise that Floriana added two more goals before halftime to put the issue beyond doubt.
On 38 minutes, Yala Bolasie ran in well for Cassar’s pass and lobbed the ball over the keeper. Four minutes later, Bolasie again volleyed in Brincat’s cross from the right with the keeper hooked to his line.
Enjoying an almost unassailable lead and pulling off Krsteski and Levniac, Floriana eased a bit in the second half and continued playing with training ground easiness.
Mellieha tried to move out of their defensive shell and Calabretta headed Rueben Vella’s corner over the bar.
Past the hour Manolito Micallef made his way inside the Mellieha area and after receiving a return pass from Caruana, he slotted the ball underneath the keeper’s body to make it 5-0.
Floriana continued to ride the tide. Bolasie overdid it when he twisted and turned in front of the goalkeeper only to lose coordination before Floriana scored their sixth seven minutes from time. Brincat’s shot was repelled by the keeper but Christian Caruana was quick to shoot in the loose ball.
In the dying minutes, keeper Agius denied Borg St John, turning his effort into a corner.
Floriana increased their tally in added time, with Bolasie finishing off a Mellieha erratic defensive clearance to complete a personal hat-trick, before Mellieha scored a consolation goal with substitute Ibrahim Tarek’s strike from close range.