Greens on top in 'first' Old Firm clash

Sliema Wanderers 0
Floriana 2

Floriana enjoyed the upperhand in yesterday's Old Firm derby to move within a point of Sliema Wanderers and add to the uncertainty that has gripped the Blues' camp since the start of the Championship Pool.

Ryan Darmanin's penalty late in the first half and an own goal by defender Jeffrey Chetcuti midway through the second half gave Danilo Doncic's side their first win in the top-six pool. This success is a morale-booster for the Greens ahead of their much-awaited quarter-final tie against the same Sliema in the FA Trophy next weekend.

Both sides effected a number of changes for this match. Sliema had striker Ivan Woods back from suspension but Brian Said, Roderick Bajada and Roderick Briffa started on the subs' bench. Young Henry Bonello was again preferred to Murphy Akanji in goal. Etienne Barbara and Branko Nisevic were not in the 18-man squad as Stephen Azzopardi shuffled his side in a bid to assess his players' performance before their encounter with Floriana in the KO.

Floriana took to this match without several key players, including Darko Krsteski, Christian Caruana, Christian Cassar and Mano Micallef while Yala Bolasie and custodian Simon Agius were named on the substitutes' bench.

Jurgen Micallef was given the green light to guard the Greens' goal. Doncic was keen on giving his young goalkeeper a run-out as Micallef will be deputising for Agius in the Trophy quarter-final after the latter received a one-match ban for his red card in the second round win over Senglea.

Floriana had the first sniff at goal after eight minutes when Trevor Cilia pounced on a loose ball and produced a shot that just missed the target.

On 26 minutes, Sliema's Andre Rocha Da Silva fed Carlos Ventura on the edge of the penalty area. The Brazilian pulled away from his marker before sweeping a rather feeble low shot which was saved by Micallef.

Ten minutes from half-time, Matthew Bartolo lofted a deep cross into the penalty area and Woods towered into the air to head towards goal only to skew his attempt wide.

Four minutes from half-time, the match came to life as Floriana were awarded a penalty after Rocha Da Silva was deemed to have pulled back Emmanuel Sevasta as the latter was about to make contact with the ball.

Striker Darmanin kept his cool to beat Bonello and give Floriana a 1-0 half-time lead.

Three minutes into the second half, Cilia nearly had the better of Bonello with a low shot but the young Sliema custodian managed to palm the ball away for a corner.

Within minutes, Floriana came close to doubling the score as Cilia ran into the penalty area before crossing towards the unmarked Darmanin whose shot from point blank ricocheted off the crossbar.

Midway through the second half, Floriana piled on the agony for the dispirited Blues as Mauro Brincat chipped a free-kick into the penalty area and Chetcuti's desperate attempt to clear saw him head the ball past a stunned Bonello.

Into the last quarter of the match, Darmanin missed a sitter after latching onto a long cross, his final shot shaving the crossbar.

The Blues did try to stage a comeback but the closest they came to reducing the deficit was on 75 minutes when Rocha Da Silva's shot on the half-turn was saved by Micallef.

The Floriana rearguard came under increasing pressure as Woods rammed a fierce shot from inside the penalty area but Sunday Eboh stood in his way. Rocha Da Silva was quick to pick the rebound only for his effort to be saved by Micallef.

In the last five minutes, Sliema substitute Orosco Anonam sprung the offside trap and hit the post with another testing shot.

The Blues will have to lift their performance in their Trophy tie with Floriana if they are to salvage an otherwise disastrous season.

Sliema: H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-6 ('59 R. Briffa-6), I. Azzopardi-6, M. Scerri-6, A. Rocha Da Silva-6.5, J. Chetcuti-6, I. Woods-6, M. Ciantar-6 ('69 O. Anonam-6), J. Vella-6, C. E. Ventura-6 ('62 R. Bajada-6), M. Bartolo-6.5.

Floriana: J. Micallef-6.5, J. Briffa-6.5, M. Sevasta-6.5, S. Eboh-7, C. Ciantar-6.5, Z. Levnaic-6.5, M. Brincat-6.5, J. Borg-6 ('71 Y. Bolasie), T. Cilia-7.5, M. Gauci-6 ('76 D. Pisani), R. Darmanin-7 ('87 J. Brincat).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Darmanin 41 pen; Chetcuti 68 og.

Yellow cards: Cilia; Ciantar; Azzopardi; Borg; Briffa.

BoV Player of the match: Trevor Cilia (Floriana).