Local Football finally returned when on Monday evening a highly-awaited derby between Valletta and Floriana was the highlight of this match day.
Competitive football took a longer Christmas break with two further weeks following a surge in positive Covid-19 cases amongst various teams.
And it was Floriana who won the maximum points against eternal rivals and neighbours Valletta. For the Greens this win confirmed their good moment when from their last four matches they grabbed ten points.
Not the same can be said of Valletta who for them this was their third defeat from their last four matches after lowering their heads against Hamrun and Balzan back in December.
In the first round Floriana emerged clear winners scoring three times without conceding against their neighbours thus registering a memorable double.
Floriana went out on an aggressive mode and in the first minute a cross from the left flank by Camenzuli caused havoc in the opposing area but Garzia was shielded by Sansone and danger cleared.
Valletta responded on 14 minutes when Caruana found Campos but the latters shot from inside the area was blocked by Callegari.
The Greens drew first blood on 23 minutes when Busuttil sent perfectly through Ciolacu who on entering the area fired past a helpless Guarnone.
Immediately Valletta went near through a Triston Caruana shot from the distance which sailed just over the bar.
Three minutes from the end of the first half Valletta near to drawing level when a Pena Beltre cross was partially saved by Kitanov with the ball falling into Prado’s path who miskicked from close range.
And deep into first half stoppage time a long range effort by Paiber from about thirty metres nearly found the corner of the net.
Valletta started the second half brightly and on 48 minutes a Curjuric shot was deflected onto a corner. And in the 55th minute a Caruana bombshell from the edge of the area just missed the target.
Just on the hour a Floriana counter attack with Ciolacu finding Agius but a central shot was easy prey for the Valletta goalkeeper.
Floriana doubled their lead in the 63rd minute with two substitutes combining perfectly together. A cross from the right flank by Agius found Rebenja who headed in style past Guarnone.
Valletta kept a positive approach and two minutes later tried their luck through a Prado shot which was saved in two attempts by Kitanov.
Sixteen minutes from the end Floriana threatened once again this time through a Paiber diagonal shot which ended inches wide.
The Citizens kept trying and just off the final whistle a Curjuric free kick was saved by Kitanov.
Photo: Domenic Aquilina
