Floriana 0

Valletta 2

Floriana: L. Saidi, D. Pisani, B. Said, T. Farrugia, M. Micallef, P. Doffo, C. Borg (K. Dzhorov), I. Woods, C. Caruana (C. Cassar), D. Draganov, M. Fernandez (S. Borg)

Valletta: A. Hogg, R. Briffa, S. Borg, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, G. Agius, O. Temile, A. Anderson, D. Dos Santos (I. Zammit), T. Scerri (K. Sammut), J. Pace (E. Agius)

Referee: P. Caruana asst.refs: P. Agius, A. Camilleri 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: D. Dos Santos 35, I. Zammit 90+

Yellow cards: O. Temile, I. Azzopardi, D. Dos Santos, C. Caruana

Player of the match: D. Dos Santos (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1 C. Caruana 2. G. Agius 3. O. Temile

Attendance: 5,247

Valletta are enjoying the view from the top of the Premier league, particularly the sight of Tarxien, Floriana and Birkirkara disappearing in their wing mirrors.

By winning the much expected derby against eternal rivals and neighbours Floriana yesterday in front of the season’s highest attendance so far this season, the Citizens now go into the second phase and the Championship Pool with a healthy seven-point lead over Tarxien when the points are halved.

The league leaders accumulated enough chances to have run out more easy winners, but were often careless and inaccurate in front of the Floriana goal. After taking a first half lead, they only scored their second assuring one in added time.

That left Floriana well into the match and kept attacking gamely. In fact, Raykov’s side demonstrated strength in the face of adversity, buoyed by the return of Tyrone Farrugia and Manolito Micallef, although they heavily missed the finishing of the still injured Daniel Nwoke.

Valletta, who had Kevin Sammut starting on the bench, surrendered their grip in midfield after Jamie Pace retreated with muscle problems before the half hour. Pablo Doffo and Christian Caruana established hegemony for Floriana, although Gilbert and Edmond Agius provided good cover in front of the Valletta defence and were a constant source of creativity.

Perhaps unexpectedly, Floriana made a more explosive start, pushing Woods, Draganov and Christian Caruana inside the area, with Marcelo Fernandez delivering the crosses.

But when Temile, Denni and Scerri started to combine to telling effect, Valletta became extremely menacing on the fast breaks.

On 12 minutes Pisani cleared a Scerri cross when set up by Denni, and two minutes later Temile’s progression on another Denni pass, was halted by Farrugia into a corner.

Floriana would not go down without a fight though and after Valletta lost Pace’s presence in midfield, the Greens started to take a stranglehold in that sector.

Dragonov’s squeezed shot caused danger as Hogg rushed out but was anticipated by Caruana, only for Woods to be blocked.

On the half hour, Draganov headed firmly Caruana’s deep cross, but keeper Hogg was up to task, tipping the ball over the bar into a corner.

Valletta had a Scerri effort saved by the grounded Saidi before they broke the deadlock on 35 minutes.

Temile did the work on the left. His inviting cross fell to Denni Dos Santos who hit the ball past the helpless Saidi.

Valletta remained dominant until halftime. Briffa went through from the byeline on the right but the Floriana keeper saved into a corner.

Edmond Agiu played a long ball to Scerri who lofted his flick over the bar.

Floriana went into the second half in more lively fashion and dictated play as the match wore on, although Valletta had the best chance to double their lead on 50 minutes when the unmarked Scerri failed to connect to Gilbert Agius’ free kick in front of a gaping goal.

Floriana took heart. On a Clyde Borg corner, Woods’ shot on the turn was saved by keeper Hogg.

Past the hour, Christian Caruana played one-two with Pisani, ran in for the return cross but headed into the keeper’s safe hands.

Floriana introduced Dzhorov for the last quarter hour and later Christian Cassar also made a substitute appearance after a long lay off, as the Greens kept trying but lacked a poacher to finish the job. Sascha Borg’s cross found nobody to connect to.

In fact Valletta carved two clear opportunities that could have sealed the issue. On 80 minutes Gilbert Agius played a through ball to Anderson who crossed low for substitute Sammut to shoot but Saidi somehow managed to put a hand to his goalbound effort.

Six minutes from time, Anderson sent a testing cross towards Denni who advanced unhindered but headed against the upright.

Floriana’s flickering hopes were dashed deep into four minutes of added time. Substitute Ian Zammit ran past two opponents down the right from a quick throw-in and sent a low drive beneath the body of the outstretched Saidi.