Mario Fontanella scored twice for Floriana to help them beat Birkirkara in an exciting match between two teams with similar ambitions of making it with the top four. This has to rank as a disappointing result for Birkirkara whose recent revival under coach Nikola Jaros was dealt a severe blow.

For all their possession and manipulation of the ball, Birkirkara created few clear chances. The Stripes once again demonstrated lack of finishing and failed  when faced with a test of nerve.

Miguel Alba featured in much of Birkirkara’s best work yesterday before being substituted, but that was hardly enough.

It always seemed that Floriana, for whom Nicola Chiesa and Amadou Samb were not included in their squad,  had greater scope to make the difference and Mario Fontanella’s predatory instinct confirmed that.

His opener after three minutes might have changed the match’s complexion. Floriana could retreat and defend deep and hit on the counter. They did that towards the hour, with Fontanella showing all his attacking credentials and lethality in front of goal.

Floriana now leapfrog Birkirkara and Valletta (the latter with a game in hand) and go temporarily third in the standings.

It had been fast and furious at the outset and it reflected what was at stake for both clubs and the undercurrents of nervous tension.

Floriana took an early lead, after only three minutes play, that might have unsettled Birkirkara’s game plan.

Camenzuli’s cross from near the byeline on the left caught the Birkirkara defence in hesitation and the unmolested Mario Fontanella slotted the ball in from close range. It is rare to see Birkirkara so susceptible defensively.

The goal triggered an immediate response from the Stripes. A Bubalovic header, on an Alba free kick, forced the Greens’ keeper Haber to stretch himself and save.

Floriana settled again and after 10 minutes Birkirkara keeper Bonello cut out Varela’s inviting cross before Fontanella could reach for the high ball.

Alba and Andelkovic were highly industrious for Birkirkara in midfield but they failed to create enough openings in a compact Floriana defence, for the ball to reach either Plut or Herrera.

The quality then dipped. When pegged back, Floriana started chasing the game in some frantic fashion but their defence was rarely stretched as Birkirkara were found wanting in the final third.

By halftime the game had settled into a sedate pattern.

Birkirkara had to be more urgent in the second half and they were. There was more zip  to their passing and pressing and enjoyed total domination. A Dimitrov dipper narrowly missed the target. His run inside the area ended with Haber saving his low drive.

But Floriana’s ability to switch the play in a split second, ensured Birkirkara could never quite relax. On 57 minutes Mario Fontanella got the better of defender Attard, on a Steve Pisani pass, and advanced even past the onrushing keeper Bonello before depoisiting the ball in the Birkirkara goal.

Birkirkara were rattled. Coach Jaros sent in Predrag Jovic for Bubalovic and Ryan Scicluna for Herrera in a double substitution.

Floriana put in defender Antonio Monticelli for midfielder Nayar.

 

Birkirkara looked to have lost all hope already by then though. They went close with an Alba grounder and another late effort by substitute Matthew Guillaumier that had keeper Haber saving well, before hitting a consolation goal, in the match’s added time, through Vito Plut, albeit from a dubious offside position, that only served for statistical purposes.

 

BIRKIRKARA –   1

FLORIANA -        2

Birkirkara: H. Bonello, C. Bubalovic (P. Jovic), G. Sciberras, J. Zerafa, M. Andelkovic, S. Dimitrov, V. Plut, N. Vukanac, M. Alba, C. Attard, E. Herrera (R. Scicluna)

Floriana: J. Haber, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, I. Varela, S. Nayar (A. Monticelli), M. Vella, J. Pisani, A. Cini, M. Fontanella, R. Camenzuli

Referee: M. Spiteri

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, P. Apap

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: M. Fontanella 3, 57, V. Plut 90+

Yellow cards: J. Pisani, C. Bubalovic, A. Cini. M. Varela, J. Zerafa

Player of the match: M. Fontanella (Floriana)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Fontanella  2. M. Alba  3. S. Pisani

Attendance: 1,442