Two red cards in stalemate

Floriana 0
Ħamrun Spartans 0

Floriana and Hamrun Spartans, two teams with high aspirations of replicating last season's mundane feat of a top-six finish, crossed swords in the opening match of the 2008-09 Premier League.

Replete with new signings, both Floriana and Ħamrun craved a winning, solid start to their league campaign but they had to settle for a point after a goalless stalemate.

The two sides performed with commendable commitment but their efforts were hampered by a lack of spark and firepower, especially in attack.

At the end of the match, Floriana looked happier with the result than their opponents. Apart from their plucky display, the Greens also drew enormous satisfaction from keeping their net intact, especially in the first half after defender Owen Bugeja had been sent off in the 17th minute.

The second half was more balanced and played between two teams of 10 after Ħamrun lost striker Gaetan Spiteri just before the break.

Most of the new players signed by Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans in the close season were given an early chance to impress and endear themselves to the fans.

Zoran Popovic, Floriana's new Serbian coach, gave a debut to five players, namely Serbian goalkeeper Dejan Maksic, Argentine midfielder Pablo Doffo, Montenegrin striker Aleksandar Madzar, Orosco Anonam and Clyde Camoin.

Manolito Micallef and Zoran Levnaic made their first official appearance in a Ħamrun shirt against their former club. Spartans coach Marco Gerada also included his two new Brazilians, defender Alex Norona and Ronaldo Ortega in his starting XI for his side's opener.

Ortega partnered Gaetan Spiteri in the Spartans' attack as Gerada set his team out in a 4-4-2 formation.

Goalmouth action proved elusive in the opening stages but on 17 minutes, Floriana suffered an unexpected blow. Fastening onto a long pass from Ryan Fenech, Spiteri appeared to shove Sunday Eboh off the ball to regain possession but referee Alan Mario Sant saw nothing untoward. Spiteri continued his march only to be bundled over by Owen Bugeja who, much to the frustration of the Floriana faithful, was red-carded for denying Spiteri a 'clear goalscoring' opportunity.

The ensuing free-kick, taken by Fenech, sailed straight into Floriana's wall.

Despite their numerical handicap, the Greens soldiered on bravely without resorting to ultra-defensive tactics. Doffo's industry and intelligence enabled Popovic's men to match Ħamrun in midfield and in the final third.

Floriana headed for the dressing room at half-time with renewed optimism after Hamrun's Spiteri was red-carded for two yellow cards. The forward earned his second booking after he was deemed to take a dive in the area following a challenge by Camoin.

Early in the second half, a low free-kick by Ortega was easily saved by Maksic.

The best chance of the game so far fell to Ħamrun on 58 minutes. Ortega's cross from a corner landed at the feet of Micallef but the latter's shot rolled wide.

At the other end, Darmain just failed to make contact with Doffo's inswinging free-kick from the left.

Midway through the second half, both teams had a chance to break the deadlock. Ortega served Fenech who was tackled by Camoin while in the act of shooting.

In no time, Floriana broke away on the counter but the hesitant Madzar was blocked by Mark Anthony Bonnici, yesterday playing at centre-half for the Spartans.

On 75 minutes, Norona did well to head clear a teasing cross from Anonam. The Brazilian defender might have scored at the other end but his header from Micallef's free-kick flashed wide.

Playing today: (National Stadium) 5 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Qormi; 7 p.m. Hibernians vs Msida SJ. Tomorrow: 6 p.m. Tarxien vs Birkirkara; 8 p.m. Sliema vs Valletta.

Floriana
D. Maksic-6.5, J. Briffa-6, D. Pisani-6, S. Eboh-6, O. Anonam-7 ('90 J. Borg), M. Brincat-6.5, P. Doffo-7, O. Bugeja, A. Madzar-4 ('81 M. Gauci), R. Darmanin-5 ('88 L. Agius), C, Camoin-6.5.

Ħamrun Spartans
S. Sullivan-6, N. Galea-5.5 ('79 J. Debattista), A. Norona-6.5, M.A. Bonnici-6.5, M. Micallef-6.5, R. Mangion-6.5 ('71 S. Sultana), S. Meilaq-5 ('59 A. Attard-5), Z. Levnaic-6, R. Fenech-6.5, G. Spiteri, R. Ortega-5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Spiteri; Camoin; Doffo.

Red cards: Bugeja 17; Spiteri 45.

BOV Player of the match: Rupert Mangion (Hamrun Spartans).