Floriana 1

Valletta 2

With Euro 2012 having a break, the attention of local football enthusiasts turned briskly on the opening match of the Euro Cup yesterday as neighbours Floriana and Valletta kicked off this competition serving as a warm-up for the four local clubs involved in next season’s European competritions.

Valletta, who proved the better side, emerged worthy winners by the odd goal in three after taking a two-goal lead by halftime. The Greens responded with a consoaltion late gaol after they had also been denied by the woodwork.

The suffocating heat at the Centenary stadium as well as the players’ physical condition in experimental line ups and tactics from both sides, kept the match at a low ebb and no wonder bereft of real excitement.

Valletta introduced three new foreigners – all Brazilians who played in different roles in the first half, after which new coach Mark Miller made some tactical changes. The lanky Jusselio Da Silva played alongside Steve Borg in central defence for the first 45 minutes only, as Jonathan Caruana started on the bench. He looked good in the air but rather clumsy with his footwork. Ricardo Da Rocha Filho showed some good technique, although hardly ever tested under pressure. He played as holding midfielder in the first half, but retreated as centre back after the restart, playing alongside Caruana, with Borg moving out at right back and captain Rodercik Briffa moving upfield. The Brazilian was substituted with 20 minutes remaining due to some muscle problem. Other newcomer Jonathan Benites Da Conceicao played wide on the right and was the most involved in Valletta’s offensive play. His two assists brought about Valletta’s goals in the first half, besides himself having a couple of tries at goal.

Valletta also had the returning Dyson Falzon and Ryan Fenech making starts, but the latter was injured and forced to leave the pitch before the quarter hour to make way for Edmond Agius.

Floriana presented no new faces. Rather they were bereft of Pablo Doffo, defender Akoto and striker Sodje as from last season, with Joseph Borg, Clyde Borg and Ryan Darmanin all given a start. The young Jurgen Borg played in goal, following the departure of Manuel Bartolo, now recruited by Valletta as Yenz Cini’s understudy. The Floriana custodian had to pick the ball from behind him after hardly 30 seconds on the clock.

Conceicao capitalised on a blunder in the Floriana defence and rolled the ball towards William Barbosa who hit in from the edge of the six-yard box.

Jurgen Borg carried some responsibilty though in Valletta’s second goal, past the half hour as he failed to stop Denni Dos Santos low diagonal strike after picking a good pass from Conceicao following his good forage down the right.

In between, Borg had denied Denni, turning his goalbound effort into a corner.

Floriana, still without an official coach and with Ivan Woods as their physical trainer, were outplayed in midfield as Clyde Borg, Woods and Paris were always second best to Valletta’s Barbosa, Denni and Agius. Wide players Christian Caruana and Andre Grabowski found little space to progress down the flanks and Darmanin was left starved for service.

Floriana summoned morte effort in the second half, and threatened for the first time on 56 minutes. Clyde Borg picked Caruana’s headed clearance from the edge of the area and thumped his volley against the bar. His effort, before being subsgtituted, deserved a better fate.

Valletta’s network of passes was hardly productive as they failed to up the tempo, even after Michael Mifsud’s inclusion as their third substitute.

That allowed Floriana to pull one back with 15 minutes remaining. Substitute Brooke Farrugia crossed a long ball inside the Valletta area that was headed by Darmanin in th epath of the Manolito Micallef who ran in from the blind side to lob the ball over keeper Cini.

Valletta should have increased their lead in the match’s added time as Denni ran through, but was foiled by keeper Borg, rushing off his line to block his shot into a corner.

Floriana: J. Borg, Jos Borg, T. Farrugia, O. Bugeja (F. Guzman), M. Micallef, C. Borg (B. Farrugia), T. Paris, A. Grabowski, I. Woods, C. Caruana, R. Darmanin

Valletta: Y. Cini, R. Briffa, S. Borg, J. Da Silva (J. Caruana), I. Azzopardi, R. Da Rocha Filho (M. Mifsud), J. Benites Da Conceicao, D. Dos Santos, R. Fenech (E. Agius), D. Falzon, W. Barbosa

Referee: A. Arciola

Asst.refs: R. Vella, D. Sultana

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: W. Barbosa 1, D. Dos Santos 34, M. Micallef 76

Yellow cards: Jos Borg, T. Paris, M. Micallef

Attendance: 1,037