Floriana 3

Balzan Youths 1

Floriana finally ended their six-match winless streak as they beat Balzan Youths yesterday under new coach Joe Brincat.

The former Floriana player made a positive debut in Premier League coaching as the Greens now go into third place of the Championship Pool and renew their aspirations for European qualification.

Brincat had to deal with the replacements of the suspended John Mintoff and Duncan Pisani as well as the injured Owen Bugeja. On the positive side, Manolito Micallef, Eric Akoto and Ivan Woods were available after suspensions. Grabowski and Darmanin retained their starting place as Clyde Borg was dropped to the bench.

Balzan also had their fair share of selection problems, with Clifton Ciantar, Dylon Grima and Miguel Ciantar all suspended. Matthew Camilleri returned in goal while Guga and Tasic started on the bench.

It was a tempestous match with three players and Balzan’s coach sent off in the second half, after a barren first.

Pablo Doffo’s was Floriana’s executioner, with his imperious free kicks that lead to all three of his side’s goal s to dismantle a stubborn ten-man Balzan.

Balzan were kicking the ball around with some fluidity in the opening minutes. Lydon Micallef was blocked inside the area and past the quarter hour, a good move by Pace, involving Deanov, created space for Calcado who only shot narrowly off target.

Floriana went close with a Doffo free kick that clipped the bar and past the half hour Doffo’s long range shot narrowly missed the target.

Before the half was over, Balzan effected two substitutions, first putting in Tasic for Bonello and then Bjorn Bondin for Michael Borg, probably to galvanise the midfield.

Some skirmish between both sets of players ensued on the pitch at halftime, and with Balzan’s coach Ivan Zammit also involved, he was consequently dismissed by the referee.

Balzan were not demorilised though and after Darmanin hit Caruana’s cross feebly, the Youths broke the deadlock on 50 minutes with a stunning strike by Jamie Pace from outside the area as Tasic’s cross from the right was cleared in his way by Paris.

That lead lasted only five minutes. Floriana, who had substituted Grabowski with Sodje, drew level with a Doffo sailing free kick that was deflected into his own net by Roderick Farrugia, when challenged by Darmanin.

Floriana’s confidence blossomed. Towards the hour Darmanin ran in for Caruana’s pass but shot off target.

On 70 minutes, a Pace free kick fell at the feet of Camilleri, but he was blocked by the Floriana keeper inside the area.

Two minutes later, Balzan’s defender Francica earned a second caution for some remarks to the assistant and was eventually sent off.

With a man down for the last 20 minutes, Balzan were facing a uphill struggle, although they went close on 76 minutes with a Camilleri headed effort on a Calcado corner.

But Floriana, whose execution of set pieces by Doffo was always their trump card, exploited their numerical superiority ten minutes from the end. Doffo’s free kick from the left was headed in by Onome Sodje at top corner.

To rub salt into their wounds, Balzan also had Nikola Tasic sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession on 82 minutes.

Floriana looked dominant for the first time in the match. Darmanin’s shot rebounded off the bar before Floriana made sure in added time, courtesy of Pablo Doffo’s p[erfect execution of his direct free kick from outside the area.

Floriana’s Christian Caruana was also sent off for a crude tackle before the end.

Floriana: P. Jansen, M. Licari (T. Farrugia), E. Akoto, T. Paris, M. Manolito, P. Doffo, J. Borg (C. Borg), I. Woods, C. Caruana, A. Grabowski (O. Sodje), R. Darmanin

Coach: J. Brincat

Balzan Y: M. Camilleri, R. Farrugia, R. Forace, J. Francica, Y. Camilleri, G. Bonello (N. Tasic), J. Pace, M. Borg (B. Bondin), M. Deanov, P. Calcado, L. Micallef (B. Guga)

Coach: I. Zammit

Referee: A. Arciola

Asst.refs: C. Francalanza, M. Scerri

4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: J. Pace 50, R. Farrugia 55 og, O. Sodje 79, P. Doffo 90+

Yellow cards: L. Micallef, B. Bondin, J. Francica, M. Camilleri, I. Woods

Red cards: J. Francica, N. Tasic, C. Caruana

Player of the match: P. Doffo (Floriana)

TMI top 3: 1. P. Doffo 2. J. Pace 3. I. Woods

Attendance: 527