Tarxien 0
Floriana 3
Tarxien: M. Buhagiar, J. Gill, M. Spiteri, M. Paolucci, G. Aquilina, L. Grech, S. Arab, D. Mambouana (M. Brincat 41), A. De Barros (D. Vassallo 74), M. Tabone, M. Ciantar (A. Agius 67)
Floriana: M. Grech (J. Spiteri 55), E. Ruiz, C. Borg, K. Keqi (B. Bray 74), B. Paiber, J. Pisani (I. Galea 64), T. Galvao da Silva, U. Arias, A. Oyama, E. Herrera, E. Cesani
Referee: A. Johnson
Asst. Refs: T. Zammit, D. Stankovic
4th official: I. Barbara
Scorers: T. Galvao da Silva pen. 1, A. Oyama 11, H. Herrera 88)
BOV Player of the Match: A. Oyama
TMI Top 3: 1. T. Galvao da Silva; 2. A. Oyama; 3. M. Buhagiar
Floriana's season came to a close yesterday evening with a comfortable albeit useless win against Tarxien Rainbows.
A goal from a first minute penalty by Tiago Galvao da Silva and a second strike by Arthur Oyama ten minutes later, gave the Greens a first half 2-0 cushion. A late goal by Edward Herrera sealed the issue on 3-0.
Floriana finished the season a disappointing 8th with 32 points, six ahead of 10th placed Tarxien.
This was a match in which both teams were expected to play with tranquillity as they had no further interest in the League. However, for Tarxien it was a useful game ahead of their participation in the FA Trophy quarterfinals.
In such a scenario both coaches had the opportunity to make a few changes to their usual line-ups.
Earlier in the season, Floriana had been eliminated by Hamrun Spartans from the FA Trophy.
In the first 45 minutes, the Greens were dominant and showed that they were in no mood for mercy as early as the first minute when they had already taken the lead through a penalty.
When they scored a second goal a few minutes later, I expected the Greens to be more efficient having built such a cushion so early.
But Tarxien fought back gallantly but rarely had the opportunity to test Greens goalie Matthew Grech as their conclusions were rather poor.
The Greens maintained their domination throughout the game, but despite creating a good number of chances, they only managed to score another goal to add to their tally.
Tarxien moved forward more frequently in the second half, but the Greens defence was superior in all aspects and Floriana substitute goalie Justin Spiteri was only called twice into action in the final 10 minutes.
Floriana took the lead in the first minute. In their first foray, Tiago Galvao da Silva was floored by goalkeeper Maverick Buhagiar and referee Alex Johnson showed no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot. The same Galvao da Silva converted in style.
On 10 minutes, Edward Herrera had a fine effort from the edge of the area turned in style to corner by goalie Buhagiar. From the same corner, the Tarxien defence failed to clear and Galvao da Silva set Arthur Oyama to fire home from the centre of the area.
In the 24th minute, Tarxien responded with a Miguel Ciantar low shot well saved by Floriana goalie Matthew Grech.
In the 40th minute, Floriana were again close to scoring a third goal when a cross from Galvao appeared destined to the head of the unmarked Ulises Arias, but Matthew Spiteri just managed to head to corner before the Greens player could head home from close in.
In the 51st minute, Floriana threatened again through a Brandon Paiber shot which goalie Buhagiar did well to turn to corner. From the same corner kick, the Tarxien goalie was again the great protagonist as he again saved in style an Oyama header.
In the 64th minute Tarxien finally threatened the Floriana defence when a cross by Gabriel Aquilina found Miguel Ciantar in front of goal, but hassled by a defender, he sent the ball wide of the target.
In the 72nd minute, Buhagiar was called into action, saving a low Oyama shot.
Ten minutes from the end, Tarxien went closest to scoring when Paolucci set substitute Andrew Agius in the centre of the Floriana area, but his effort was blocked by goalie Spiteri.
Floriana sealed the issue with a third goal in the 88th minute. It was Bray who set Edward Herrera beautifully in the Tarxien area and the latter beat Buhagiar with a fine rising shot.