Naxxar L.-Floriana 0-2
Naxxar L.: L. Pecorella, R. Bakare, V. Bellia, A. Buhagiar, RG Cassar, A. Decesare, D. Falzon (D. Bonnici), T. Lopez de Souza, Y. Martines de Oloiveira (T. Scerri), F. Stojanovic, M. Vignjevic.
Floriana: S. Mintoff, A. Scicluna, I. Edet, S. Pisani, R. Emeka (I. Galea), C. Caruana (J. Xerri), D. Pinheiro de Sousa, C. Borg, E. Briffa, RF Aguiar, S. Borg.
Referee: C. Lautier.
Asst refs: I. Spiteri. D. Castillo.
Asst. additional refs: F. Zammit, S. Spiteri.
4th official: P. Abela.
Scorers: R. Emeka, D. Pinheiro,
Yellow cards: C. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Bakare, A. Scicluna, S. Pisani, D. Falzon,
Red cards:
Player of the match: C. Caruana.
TMI Top 3: 1. C. Caruana, 2. E. Briffa, 3. M. Vignjevic.
Floriana made sure of their safety by beating Naxxar Lions in yesterday’s first match at the Hibs Stadium.
Two goals in the second half from Emeka and Pinheiro were enough to see them through against the Lions who now face a desperate battle against Vittoriosa in their last encounter in the coming days.
The Stars win over Qormi yesterday means that the match between Vittoriosa and Naxxar this week will be a veritable decider- a draw or a win for the Stars will condemn the Lions to the Drop. Naxxar, now a point behind the Stars, need to win to overtake the Stars and force them into next season’s first division.
The match was expected to be keenly contested. But it left all those at the Stadium disappointed with the fare provided by both sides with scoring chances being few and far between prior to the two goals scored by the Greens.
Both sides had three regular players missing through suspension.
Floriana were lacking the services of Coronado, Muir and Farrugia, while Naxxar had Azzopardi, Brazilian Gilmar and Reano suspended .
The first half was a balanced affair with Naxxar, perhaps, showing more ideas in midfield where they were well served by the veteran Bellia and Stojanovic, while Vignjevic and De Souza provided some anxious moments in the Greens’ defence.
Floriana felt the absence of Coronado and Muir in midfield and rarely appeared dangerous in front of the young but very promising Luke Pecorella, in between the Naxxar posts for the suspended Azzopardi. He was prominent with his interceptions from some crosses. Otherwise he was not really tested.
The Greens improved in the second half as they took the initiative. But they rarely looked penetrative until they finally found the net to take the lead.
They then suffered a moment of indecision when they conceded a penalty which Naxxar missed to allow their opponents to score a second goal which ascertained their win and their status in next season’s Premier League.
Naxxar failed to maintain their first half momentum and were punished for their lack of commitment, also contriving to miss that penalty which should have brought them well back in contention.
On the fourth minute, Naxxar appealed in vain for a penalty when Vignjevic appeared to have been floored in the area by S. Borg, but Mr Lautier, close to the action, deemed otherwise and allowed play to go on.
At the other end, in the 6th minute, D. Pinheiro de Sousa had a fine volley just missing the target.
In the 15th minute, Naxxar went close through a Martinez de Oliveira rising shot that just missed the target.
Moments later, a Vignjevic cross spelt danger all the way but Floriana goalie Mintoff intercepted the cross ahead of Falzon.
On the 31st minute, Naxxar goalie Pecorella had to dive sideways to save a Diogo Pinheiro freekick.
Soon after the second half started, Pinheiro’s freekick for Floriana was only partially saved by Pecorella and Clyde Borg quickly pushed the ball into the net, but the point was rightly disallowed for an offside.
The goal was in the offing and it was the 58th minute that the Greens eventually opened the scoring. It was Pinheiro who crossed low into the area and Roland Eneka just managed to flick past the surprised Pecorella to the delight of the Greens clan.
Three minutes later, Naxxar missed a great chance to get back on level terms when referee Lautier ordered a penalty after Scicluna floored Daren Falzon. But the same Falzon saw his central shot saved in two attempts by Mintoff.
At the other end, it was Caruana who went very close for the Greens with a shot that just missed the target.
The Greens kept the initiative and it was Diogo Pinheiro who scored a second with a low shot following some good work by the intelligent Caruana.
Naxxar’s reaction was somewhat weak with their first effort arriving on the 77th minute when a Vignjevic effort went wide.
At the final whistle, there was relief in the Floriana camp. The target of their new owners – that of avoiding relegation – had been reached.