Floriana 2
Qormi 2
Floriana and Qormi remained in a mid-table position after sharing four goals in a 2-2 draw in yesterday’s second match.
The draw must have contented both sides, even if Floriana remain in sixth place on nine points, two above Qormi who are seventh together with Tarxien and Hamrun.
Floriana, without coach Mark Wright, were without the suspended Kane Farrugia and Aaron Brown.
Qormi had Joe Brincat, new assistant for coach Stephen Azzopardi, on the bench. Qormi only made one change to the side that was beaten by Balzan last week. Luke Sciberras was preferred to Gabriel Buttigieg.
Both teams had suffered defeats in the previous round, Floriana going down 3-1 to Mosta, and Qormi being beaten 2-1 by Balzan.
Their aim yesterday was to return to victory as they sought to move up among the top six.
The match had an electrifying start with two goals in the first 14 minutes. But after that, play deteriorated and till the interval, it petered out into a tame affair with neither side creating much in front of the respective goals.
In actual fact, neither side seemed to have an edge with Qormi being dangerous through the incursions of Bello Osagie and with Valdo Alinho and Aman Verma working hard to get their Floriana team-mates moving.
In the second half, the exchanges were shared. In fact I think neither team deserved to win – or lose – considering the match was mostly uneventful.
It was also a replica of the first half in so far as the goals were concerned. Qormi regained the lead only for Floriana to equalise soon after. That was perhaps a confirmation of the balance that existed on the field of play.
Floriana started like a house on fire and Wasiu had already tested Steve Sultana in the fourth minute with a low shot that had the goalie diving sideways to save.
A minute later, however, Qormi took the lead. A shot by Gaetan Spiteri was only partially saved by Jonathan Debono and it was easy for Vincenzo Pisani to hit home into the roof of the net.
Floriana were not to be outdone and they hit back almost immediately, scoring an equaliser on the 14th minute through a fine freekick from Verma.
Play deteriorated and we had to wait till the 37th minute for another action worthy of note. It was Bello Osagie who weaved his way into the Floriana area, but his shot was blocked to corner by Tyrone Farrugia.
As the second half started, Qormi threatened through Pisani who received a good ball from Bello Osagie only to see his shot turned to corner in style by Debono.
Qormi regained the lead on the 62nd minute when substitute Chetcuti crossed low into the Greens area. Pisani controlled the ball, beat a defender and shot home past a helpless Debono.
Qormi’s joy was, however, shortlived as Floriana equalised just three minutes later. Wasiu received the ball from Trevor Cilia and hit low past Sultana.
In the 68th minute, Cilia had a good effort from outside the area going wide.
In the 83rd minute, Tryone Farrugia was a saviour for the Greens as he cleared a Sirito back heeled effort from over the line after a low cross by Leighton Grech.
Floriana: J. Debono, T. Farrugia, D. Pisani, O. Bugeja, C. Tremarco, V. Alhino, A. Verma, T. Cilia, S. Wasiu, R. Darmanin, C. Borg (T. Paris).
Qormi: S. Sultana, K. Thackray, R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, V. Pisani, A. Bello-Osagie (S. Sirito), L. Sciberras, E. Bilboa Zarate, G. Spiteri (J. Chetcuti), J. Bondin, L. Grech (M. Gauci).
Referee: F. Zammit.
Asst refs: L. Portelli, C. Grech.
4th official: M. Borg,.
Scorers: V. Pisani 2, A. Verma, Wasiu,
Yellow cards: C. Tremarco, L. Grech, T. Paris
Player of the match: V. Pisani (Qormi)
TMI Top 3: 1. V. Pisani; 2. A. Verma; 3. A. Bello Osagie
Attendance: 720