Wasiu goal floors plucky Melita

Floriana 1
Wasiu 79
Melita 0

Floriana striker Akanni-Sunday Wasiu produced a clinical finish to help the Greens come through a testing Anniversary Cup fourth-round tie against Melita in Corradino, yesterday.

The Englishman controlled the ball before spinning and side-footing past Amateurs goalkeeper Matthew Sapiano. That was the kind of finish Melita striker Julian Galea lacked as he mishit an earlier shot when through on goal.

Melita more than matched Floriana in the first half, with 20-year-old striker Galea going close three times.

But, the Premier League outfit were totally dominant in the second period.

The game itself was the perfect opportunity for coach Roddy Collins to give some of his young players who have not been playing regularly in the first team at Floriana, some much-needed competitive football.

Jurgen Micallef took over duties between the posts from Bernard Paris while Roberto Brincat and Clyde Borg were brought into the midfield as the Irish coach opted for three changes from the side that drew against Sliema Wanderers last week.

However, the most telling omission was for the First Division side. They were forced to do without injured defender George Gribbon.

Melita included three former Greens players in their starting XI - Sapiano, Steve Bonnici and Nicolo Baldacchino - and two of those Floriana old boys were involved in the first noteworthy episode of the match after 22 minutes.

Brian Said was the culprit of a misplaced pass that allowed Galea to race down the right flank unchallenged only to aim a tame shot at Micallef.

Melita were happy to throw numbers forward whenever possible, with Galea going closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock.

He has earned a reputation as a prolific striker in the lower divisions of the Maltese league and was aiming to enhance his reputation against more exalted opposition. Three times the youngster found himself unmarked in the box and three times the defence came out on top.

The Amateurs started the second half as they had left the first. A few minutes after the break, Galea hit the ball with more power than accuracy to drag his effort wide.

On 52 minutes, Pablo Doffo whipped a free-kick from the left just wide of Sapiano's far post as Floriana were showing more urgency to find the net.

An excellent flowing four-man move, seven minutes later, nearly led to the opening goal. It culminated with Roberto Brincat hitting the bar from the edge of the box.

This pattern continued with Floriana pushing and probing but lacking the quality in the final third and Melita occasionally threatening on the break.

That was until Wasiu's intervention, a Clyde Borg shot came back off the bar for the Englishman to side-foot home.

But despite largely dominating possession and territory as the match drew to a close, Melita could not force a breakthrough and Floriana held on.

Floriana
J. Micallef, D. Pisani, C. Ciantar (46' Brincat J), B. Said, O. Anonam, P. Doffo, A.S. Wasiu, R. Darmanin, C. Borg, M. Briffa (46' Spiteri M), R. Brincat (79' Grioli M).

Melita
M. Sapiano, S. Bonnici, N. Zammit, M. Mamo (82' N. Mizzi), D. Gravino, M. Martin, K. Micallef, N. Baldacchino (71' T. Terpougoff), J. Galea, L. Fenech (82'L. Micallef), I. Bilocca.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow card: Gravino.