SLIEMA WANDERERS 0
FLORIANA 2
Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat (R. Briffa), I. Azzopardi, M. Scerri, A. Da Silva, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, M. Ciantar (O. Anonam), J. Vella, C. Ventura (R. Bajada), M. Bartolo
Floriana: J. Micallef, J. Briffa, M. Sevasta, S. Eboh, C. Ciantar, Z. Levniac, M. Brincat, J. Borg (Y. Bolasie), T. Cilia, M. Gauci (D. Pisani), R. Darmanin (J. Brincat)
Referee: C. Lautier Asst.refs: K. Borg, E.Spiteri 4th official: J. Attard
Scorers: R. Darmanin (pen), J. Chetcuti o.g.
Yellow cards: Z. Levniac, C. Ciantar, I. Azzopardi, J. Borg, R. Briffa, J. Briffa
Player of the match: Trevor Cilia (Floriana)
TMI top three: 1. T. Cilia 2. Z. Levniac 3. M. Scerri
Floriana’s first win in the Championship Pool was a deserved one and came as a relief to coach Danilo Doncic after recent upsets, especially against ‘Old Firm’ rivals Sliema Wanderers.
But it was a vastly disappointing game which failed to fulfill the excitement expected from two teams with the best local football tradition.
If Floriana were guilty of some profligacy in their finishing, which could have earned them a bigger win, Sliema Wanderers looked unimaginative going forward, and offered little threat, albeit unlucky at times.
They continue to slump with every passing week, having won only one of five matches in the Championship Pool, unable to stop their form crisis.
The first half was utterly unremarkable with Floriana taking the lead through a Darmanin penalty towards halftime. Play improved slightly in the second half, even after the introduction of some regulars, producing a high ratio of opportunities, although little in terms of real entertainment.
Following last week’s disappointing defeats, both teams’ line-ups showed a rift of changes. Sliema relegated Said, Bajada, Briffa and Anonam to the bench, giving starts to Azzopardi, Ventura and young Miguel Ciantar. Woods returned after suspension and played alongside Ciantar in attack.
Ian Azzopardi and Jeffrey Chetcuti played as central defenders, with a four-man midfield of Ventura, Scerri, Bartolo and Da Silva.
Floriana also had their fair share of absentees, the most notable was perhaps the omission of goalkeeper Simon Agius, replaced by young Jurgen Micallef. Christian Cassar, Christian Caruana, Manolito Micallef and Darko Krsteski were all missing as Bolasie sat on the bench. Joseph Borg and Mark Gauci were given a rare start as Levniac and Briffa returned after suspension.
Despite all the physical endeavour, the encounter was largely bereft of excitement, thanks to a midfield stalemate.
Both sides went close in the early stages as Floriana’s keeper repelled Bartolo’s shot and on the other end, Cilia put his shot narrowly off target.
On 35 minutes, Woods headed Bartolo’s cross over the bar as both goalkeepers remained mostly inoperative. The only highlight of an opening half, singularly lacking quality, was the penalty awarded to Floriana three minutes before the break as the referee noticed Da Silva’s foul on Sevasta inside the area following a corner. Ryan Darmanin tucked it away to give his side the lead.
A more direct approach by the Greens after resumption kept Sliema under pressure but livened the match. Keeper Bonello had to stretch himself to turn Cilia’s low drive into a corner.
Floriana failed to exploit wide gaps in the Wanderers’ rearguard. Cilia avoided two opponents inside the Sliema area but Darmanin shot the loose ball against the bar. Darmanin also failed to put a foot to Cilia’s cross from the left towards the hour.
Sliema introduced Briffa and Bajada by then but suffered a further setback on 67 minutes.
Brincat’s sailing free kick from the left was missed by Levniac but distracted defender Chetcuti, enough to deflect the ball into his own goal.
Floriana were riding the waves and went close again but Darmanin fluffed the chance, lofting the ball over when put clear by Cilia.
Sliema’s best chance fell on 79 minutes. Bartolo sent a low cross from the byeline on the right, but Eboh blocked Da Silva’s effort on the line and then keeper Micallef held out Woods’ shot on the loose ball.
On the other end, Darmanin ran in unhindered, beating the Sliema’s offside trap but was foiled by Bonello’s timely intervention.
Sliema were unlucky on 85 minutes as the upright denied substitute Anonam, who had raced in from the left.
But Floriana, exploiting the gaps behind Sliema, squandered further chances before the match was up. Cilia’s diagonal low shot, when served by substitute Pisani, went tantalisingly wide and later, after Bolasie had outplayed the keeper and crossed towards the middle, Pisani ran unhindered but shot horrendously over.