Valletta 2

Floriana 0

SILVIO VELLA

Floriana again failed to beat neighbours Valletta in this third derby of the season, with UEFA’s president Michel Platini watching from the VIP area. The Citizens showed in the process that they are full of running with the championship race getting properly under way.

They made sure they remain at least three points clear of second placed Hibernians before next week’s direct clash.

With plenty of width, Zongo and Denni Dos Santos preyed on Floriana’s wide back’s vulnerability as the speedy Michael Mifsud was a constant menace.

Floriana always struggled to produce sufficient incisive movement among their attacking players.

Valletta were buoyed by the return of Edmond Agius and Roderick Briffa in midfield as Michael Mifsud returned in attack, dropping Terence Scerri to the bench.

Completely superior to their opponents, who were bereft of the suspended Christian Caruana and Duncan Pisani, and named Grabowski only among the substitutes, Valletta built a comfortable two-goal lead by halftime, besides hitting the post and denied on other occasions, and looked good value for their advantage.

After only two minutes, the Floriana keeper Jansen was called to repel Mifsud’s shot as he entered inside the area from the right.

Floriana almost capitalised on ten minutes when ‘Mady’ lost the ball to Mintoff who played it long for Woods to chase, go past Caruana but have his shot blocked by keeper Hogg into a corner.

Valletta soon took the bit between their teeth. On 13 minutes, Mifsud was fouled outside the Floriana area. William Barbosa beat keeper Jansen at the top right hand corner with a curling direct free kick.

Valletta kept up the momentum. Mifsud was quick to react on a goalmouth scramble inside the Floriana area but the keeper saved into a corner.

There were half chances at both ends, with Jansen blocking Agius’ shot and Hogg saving Sodje’s tame effort.

Midway through the half, Micallef tried to halt Caruana’s incursion from the back, the ball fell loose to Zongo, whose grounder hit the foot of the post.

But there was no denying Valletta on 27 minutes. Licari was caught off the pace on Zongo’s through ball to Denni who avoided the grounded keeper and flicked the ball in from a tight angle to score his tenth league goal. And with halftime looming, Mifsud ran in for Denni’s through pass but failed to control the ball and keeper Jansen blocked.

Valletta stepped down a gear in the second half and with Floriana still performing below par, the champions could still defend their lead with minimal difficulty.

Towards the hour, Floriana made a double substitution as they pulled out keeper Jansen to introduce other foreigner Grabowski for Darmanin.

That failed to reap dividends as Floriana could only threaten with a Sodje header over the bar on Mintoff’s cross and a Doffo free kick which keeper Hogg fisted out in the path of Woods who skied the ball.

Valletta still remained potent going forward. Keeper Bartolo blocked Barbosa’s shot past the hour and a Zongo effort from the left, with ten minutes remaining flashed wide of the Floriana post.

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Panandetiguiri, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa (R. Bajada), E. Agius, O. Zongo (G. Agius), D. Dos Santos, W. Barbosa, M. Mifsud (T. Scerri)

Floriana: P. Jansen (M. Bartolo), M. Licari, M. Micallef, E. Akoto, T. Paris, P. Doffo, J. Borg, J. Mintoff, I. Woods, O. Sodje, R. Darmanin (A. Grabowski)

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst. refs: I. Spiteri, K. Borg

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: W. Barbosa 13, D. Dos Santos 27

Yellow cards: J. Mintoff, E. Agius, P. Doffo, S. Borg, J. Borg

Player of the match: Denni Dos Santos (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Dos Santos 2. E. Agius 3. I. Woods

Attendance: 3,373