Floriana 2

Mqabba 0

Mqabba’s gallant display against Premier side Floriana was not enough yesterday to create an upset in this competititon.

Floriana with some clinical finish had the better of Mqabba with two second half goals. the match was an interesting one even though it rarely reached high standards.

Much more was expected from the Greens who scraped through to the fourth round of the competition after a rather dull performance.

Playing against superior opposition mqabba played their hearts out, sharing the exchanges for long periods of the match, even playing the better football at times.

However Bobby Giorev’s side was found lacking in the final touch in front of goal. On the contrary the Greens took full advantage of the chances created and with two goals at the begining and near the end of the second half sealed mqabba’s fate.

Mqabba started like a house on fire and after barely sixty seconds of play, midfielder Patrick Borg created havoc in the Greens’ defence and his dipper from an acute angle was brilliantly tipped into a corner by Floriana goalkeeper Micallef.

Five minutes into the game Floriana hit back with a good Ryan darmanin header going slightly over the bar.

After a lean patch Mqabba surged again forward and could have taken the lead near the end of the first half with a Claudio Calleja header which was again well saved by Micallef.

The Greens looked better in the second half and forged ahead on 53 minutes when substitute Marlon Briffa fired home the rebound after a Wasiu header was partially blocked.

Mqabba staged a good rally but the closest they could get was on 75 minutes when a Claudio Calleja freekick skimmed the crossbar.

Seven minutes from time Floriana sealed the issue when darmanin nodded towards Wasiu who made no mistake from close range.

Floriana: J. Micallef; J. Briffa (J.Brincat), D. Pisani, B. Said, O. Bugeja, J. Simmonds, L. Agius (R. Brincat), P. Doffo, O. Anonam (M. Briffa), R. Darmanin, S. Wasiu-Akkani

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, M.A. Psaila, G. Barry, C. Calleja (S.Magro), J.P. Muscat, J. Fenech, O. Grech, M.Anastasi (M.Gauci')

Referee: Esther Azzopardi