Wasiu torments Reds as Greens net first win

Ħamrun Spartans 0
Floriana 1
Simmonds 50

Slowly but surely Floriana are finding their feet. A 6-0 hiding at the hands of Valletta in the derby and injuries to key players Christian Cassar and Sunday Eboh were seen as hammer blows for the Greens in this early phase of the season but they have shown commendable character lately.

Having taken a point from their clash with Tarxien despite not playing well, Floriana turned in their best performance so far to record their first win at the expense of Ħamrun Spartans.

The Greens were worthy winners as, for long stretches, they were the brighter side with Sunday Wasiu orchestrating their best attacking moves.

This upset left Ħamrun still waiting to obtain their first point after three outings. They put in a gallant effort but were sloppy in defence and lightweight in attack.

Clyde Camoin was certified fit to make his first competitive start for Ħamrun, incidentally against his former team.

Another ex-Floriana player in the Reds’ ranks, Mano Micallef, was ruled out by suspension while Jonathan Holland and Mark Anthony Bonnici missed out because of injuries.

Floriana coach Roddy Collins again deployed Orosco Anonam at centre-half as his defensive resources were decimated by the long-term absence of Eboh and the unavailability of new signing Brian Said, suspended.

The game was barely 25 seconds old when Wasiu hit a powerful drive that whistled past the post.

Nine minutes into the game, Mead Mifsud served Gaetan Spiteri who ran into the box but his shot was warded off by keeper Bernard Paris.

At the other end, Wasiu nutmegged Roderick Fenech close to the byline and dragged the ball back to Anonam but the latter’s shot was too central to trouble Ivan Casha.

Collins set his team out in a 4-3-3 formation with Christian Caruana and Donovan Simmonds detailed to provide support for Wasiu. The Spartans’ tactical configuration was 4-4-2 with Spiteri and Marcelo Pereira leading their attacking charge.

On 21 minutes the Greens wasted a glorious opportunity to open the scoring. Pablo Doffo curled a cross behind the Spartans defence and into the path of Caruana who looked to be in an offside position. The flag stayed down but Caruana drove wide.

Minutes later, Caruana headed off target from a Doffo corner as Floriana enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure.

A minute past the half hour, Wasiu turned a seemingly lost ball into an opening for Floriana as his strong running unnerved Martin Hrubsa who stumbled as he tried to shepherd the ball to Casha. Wasiu refused to give up and challenged Casha but the Nigerian was eventually dispossessed.

Five minutes into the second half Floriana took a deserved lead.

Wasiu was the catalyst as he ably controlled the ball outside the box, outmuscled Hrubsa and flicked a pass to the sprinting Simmonds on the right. The Floriana winger still had it all do as Camoin tried to close him down but Simmonds managed to squeeze his shot past the Spartans left-back and Casha.

Stirred by this setback, Ħamrun brought some urgency to their game. From a Rupert Mangion corner, Hrubsa headed the ball into the goalmouth where Spiteri tried to nudge it past Paris but the latter saved.

Creative football was conspicuous by its absence for a good 15-minute spell. With 20 minutes left, Wasiu, by miles the best player on the field, hit a fierce drive but Casha was alert.

Ħamrun’s hopes of snatching a late equaliser receded when Marcelo Pereira was expelled after he appeared to hit out at Anonam during a set-piece action.

In stoppage time, a corner by substitute Mauro Busuttil was cleared into the path of Hrubsa but the Czech lifted his shot over the bar. When the Spartans won another corner, Casha went up

to increase the numbers but Hrubsa headed Mangion’s delivery over.

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-6, R. Mangion-6, R. Fenech-5, D. Cucciardi-4, M. Mifsud-5.5 (‘67 M. Busuttil-5.5), L.J. Agius-6 (‘83 C. Cacciattolo), M. Pereira, G. Spiteri-5.5, M. Hrubsa-5, T. Fleri Soler-5.5 (‘71 A. Attard), C. Camoin-5.

Floriana
B. Paris-6.5, D. Pisani-5, C. Ciantar-5 (‘24 O. Bugeja-5), J. Briffa-6, O. Anonam-6.5, J. Borg-5.5, P. Doffo-6.5, J. Brincat-5, D. Simmonds-6.5 (‘83 R. Darmanin), C. Caruana-6 (‘61 L. Agius-5.5), S. Wasiu-8.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Ciantar; Camoin; Spiteri; Caruana; Cucciardi.

Red card: Pereira (Ħ) 87.

BoV player of the match: Sunday Wasiu (Floriana).