Floriana 0

Birkirkara 3

Shola Shodiya was Birkirkara’s inspiration yesterday in his side’s 3-0 win over poor Floriana. Although the final score flatters them and may look too harsh on the Greens, Birkirkara were still the better side in a scrappy match played in front of a sparse crowd at the Centenary Stadium.

A sloppy goal paved the way for Birkirkara’s win, as they doubled their lead past the hour and then scored their third in added time, when ironically Floriana had gone closest to reducing the deficit and had even hit the post. Floriana are now out of contention as they have to play leaders Hibernians in the last match.

After the five goals conceded against Hibernians in the first match, Birkirkara tried to tighten at the back, although Rodrigo Pereira was suspended. Rueben Gauci started in goal while Vukanac and Patrick Borg were the central defenders. And in the absence of Paul Fenech, Fabian Zammit started as holding midfielder alongside Rowen Muscat. Gareth Sciberras is still nursing a hand injury. Birkirkara were also bolstered by the presence of Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, preferred to Michael Camilleri in attack.

Floriana had also lost their first match against Valletta and yesterday they fielded a completely reshuffled side, without Ivan Woods, Christian Caruana, Tyrone Farrugia, Thomas Paris and Joseph Borg, who all started on the bench. Andre Grabowski was not even included in their squad. Keeper John Agius played instead of Jurgen Borg.

The Greens had three new foreigners. Spanish central defender Garcia Bolanos played alongside Guzman but looked far from convincing at the back. Nigerian Onosigua, formerly of Pieta, started in midfield as other Spaniard Antonio De La Torre played behind the forwards, but was never highly involved.

The match lacked any form of commitment, passion or excitement and resembled more a kick-about, played with training ground easiness on a hot and humid afternoon. For the first quarter hour, neither side managed a shot on target. After that, Shodiya tested the Floriana keeper with a low tame drive.

On 22 minutes Floriana conceded a most sloppy goal. Shola Shodiya chased Gauci’s kick forward and lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper with alarming ease.

Floriana were unable to make a reaction as they looked jaded and bereft of ideas. The closest they went was three minutes before halftime when Darmanin headed De La Torre’s cross clumsily over the bar.

Both teams effected substitutions in the second half. Birkirkara remained slightly the better team and Muscat should have done better when a clearance on Silva’s cross from the righ fell into in his path but standing inside the Floriana area, he shot wastefully over.

Shodiya was again the architect of Birkirkara’s second goal on 63 minutes as he turned off his opponent on the right and with the goalkeeper caught off balance, he rolled the ball to the unmarked Jorge Silva to tap in.

Floriana created two good opportunities after that. De La Torre shot his free kick narrowly wide. And on 71 minutes Clyde Borg’s shot took a wicked deflection off Zerafa’s head into a corner. From the resultant corner, Sascha Borg shot against the innerside of the post with the Birkirkjara keeper beaten.

Floriana again went close seven minutes from time through substitute Joseph Borg, whose overhead kick on a Caruana pass, went off target.

There was still time for Birkirkara to score their third in added time. The irresistible Shodiya agin provided the cross from the left and substitute Omar El Ghouti headed in from close range.

Floriana: J. Agius, A. Bolanos, A. De La Torre, D. Pisani, F. Guzman, M. Micallef, B. Farrugia, C. Borg (J. Borg), S. Borg, K. Onosigua (C. Caruana), R. Darmanin (J. Brincat)

Birkirkara: R. Gauci, J. Zerafa (A. Cassar), P. Borg, N. Vukanac, R. Camenzuli, J. Silva, F. Zammit (C. Johansen), R. Scicluna, R. Muscat, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (O. El Ghaouti), S. Shodiya

Referee: C. Lautier

Asst.refs: M. Debono, T. Debono

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: S. Shodiya 22, J. Silva 63, O. El Ghaouti 90+

Yellow cards: M. Micallef, A. Cassar

Attendance: 242

Standings

Hibernians 6pts; Valletta and Birkirkara 3; Floriana 0.