Floriana-Valletta 0-2

Floriana: D. Hanford, A. Scicluna, I. Edet, S. Pisani (L. Casha), C. Caruana (B. Farrugia), I. Coronado, D. Pinheiro, D. Baldacchino, C. Borg, J. Borg, G. Muir

Valletta: Y. Cini, S. Borg, R. Fenech, E. Agius (S. Bajada), R. Briffa, O. Reyes Sanchez, R. Bakare, A. Nyang, D. Dos Santos, A. Nafti (I. Zammit), L. Dimech (J. Caruana)

Referee:  A. Arciola

Asst.refs:  R.Vella, A. Borg Cardona

4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: D. Dos Santos 40, E. Agius 70

Yellow cards: L. Dimech, Y. Cini. S. Pisani

Player of the match: D. Dos Samntos (Valletta)

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

Attendance: 1,491

 

Another convincing performance enabled Valletta to beat neighbours Floriana with plenty to spare in this derby, thus keeping themselves within reaching distance of the leading duo Hibernians and Birkirkara.

The irrepressible Denni Dos Santos was creative, inspirational and constantly involved in a game Valletta simply had to win. Inevitably, he scored his side’s opener at a time when Floriana’s defensive work was beginning to frustrate Valletta. Complete superiority in the second half produced only another goal from the industrious Edmond Agius but this was only due to the superlative goalkeeping of Daniel Hanford in the Floriana goal.

Floriana were expected to approach this derby with more heart, given their recent improvement. They had their moments, although few and far between, but their play was laced with anxiety from the moment they fell behind shortly before halftime.

Once behind, the Green’s limitations and lack of expertise were rather exposed as they were overrun by Valletta’s pace and slick passing in the second period. Igor Coronado and Diogo Pinheiro were hugely disappointing to say the least.

Valletta relegated Jonathan Caruana to the bench and gave a league debut to Spaniard Oscar Reyes Sanchez as central defender. The return of Aziz Nyang meant that there was no place for Mifsud Triganza in their starting line-up. Alliyu’s introduction to the Premier league was delayed because the English forward failed to recover for yesterday’s match.

Floriana on their part, had Sascha Borg suspended and also gave a league debut to young left back Darrell Baldacchino.

Valletta made the more assertive start, with Fenech having a try at goal in the opening stages but keeper Hanford saved well.

A half chance for Floriana soon after with Pisani almost capitalising on some misunderstanding between Dimech and Cini in the Valletta defence, but Agius managed to clear.

Gradually, Valletta started to find pace and rhytm and for some periods, Floriana were made to chase the game. Past the half hour Denni co-ordinated well on Briffa’s cross from the right to test Hanford with a spectacular scissors kick. The Floriana keeper was equal to task, turning the ball into a corner.

That was the prelude to Valletta’s goal which came five minutes before the break. Agius played a through ball from half pitch for Denni Dos Santos to chase and after shrugging off the challenge of Baldacchino and Edet, he beat keeper Hanford with a low strike.

The goal gave Valletta some more breathing space in the second half as Floriana took a more laid back approach and looked running out of steam in critical moments. The second half was mostly one-way traffic with the Greens’ goalkeeper Daniel Hanford keeping his side into the match with a string of superlative saves.

Hanford rushed off his line to block on Borg and then hold out Nafti’s firm header, on Briffa’s cross, just before the hour. Following a Nafti corner on 62 minutes, Borg’s effort from close range was held out by Hanford’s reflex save.

Luca Casha went in for Pisani soon after and the Floriana substitute headed a Coronado cross just wide in a rare Floriana threat.

Valletta increased their efforts in search of that assuring second goal. On 69 minutes Bakare long range drive was saved by the outstretched Floriana keeper, who was rendered helpless a minute later by Edmond Agius’ drilling low shot from the edge of the area after Nafti had laid the ball in his path.

Valletta looked home and dry but remined potent going forward. Substitute Zammit was close to scoring himself with a headed effort but was thwarted by the Floriana shot stopper. Hanford again came to the fore in the late stages, blocking Nyang, who had gone past Baldacchino and  inside the Floriana area from the right.

A sterner test awaits Valletta next Wednesday.