Floriana banish fears, Msida doomed

Floriana 1
Darmanin 59
Ħamrun Spartans 0

Floriana are home and dry. Needing a point to lay their relegation ghosts to rest, they claimed three yesterday as Ryan Darmanin's goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Ħamrun who had accomplished their survival mission two weeks ago.

Victory for Floriana simply confirmed the inevitable as Msida, who were nine points away from safety before yesterday's match, have followed Dingli Swallows through the relegation trapdoor.

The Greens had more than one reason to be happy about their efforts as victory not only secured their status but it also raised their morale ahead of Tuesday's Anniversary Cup final against rivals Valletta.

There was a poignant moment before the match as Ħamrun captain Gaetan Spiteri and Floriana midfielder Christian Caruana, both substitutes yesterday, made their way into the VIP zone to place flowers and mementoes on the seat where Dragan Sejic used to sit at the National Stadium.

Sejic, the Spartans goalkeeping coach whose first job in Malta was as a member of Floriana's technical team, passed away on Thursday morning. The Spartans players unfurled a banner with the words 'Rest in peace Dragan, we all miss you' as a minute's silence was impeccably observed by a sparse crowd.

Zoran Popovic and Steve D'Amato, the respective coaches of Floriana and Ħamrun, drafted a host of young players in their starting formations.

Popovic chose to keep goalkeeper Bernard Paris, Orosco Anonam, Michael Ghebru and Caruana on the bench.

The Spartans fashioned the first chance when Mano Micallef darted into the box and picked out Marcelo Pereira at the far post but the Brazilian volleyed over.

D'Amato was forced into his first substitution after 21 minutes as Aaron Attard was stretchered off after picking up an injury. His void was filled by Jonathan Holland.

Mediocre football was the order of the day as both teams looked as though they were treating this match like a training session.

Nine minutes from half-time, Clifton Ciantar swung over a left-wing cross towards the edge of the box where Darmanin was unmarked but the Floriana striker was closed down by Andrea Cassar. The ball broke to Jermain Brincat who was brought down by the Spartans goalkeeper. Referee Andre Arciola awarded Floriana a free-kick but Darmanin's grounder was off target.

Spiteri replaced Holland at the start of the second half after the former Floriana midfielder sustained an injury in the final stages of the opening period.

The game remained generally low-key but around the 55th-minute mark, the Spartans mustered three successive shots but Micallef proved equal to the task.

In their next telling raid, Floriana broke the deadlock.

Mark Spiteri, lurking in a central position outside the box, released Ciantar whose diagonal effort was repelled by Cassar only for Darmanin to hammer home from the rebound.

The Greens might have made it 2-0 minutes later when Ciantar sprinted clear before releasing Darmanin whose acrobatic volley was too soft to trouble Cassar.

Ħamrun's hopes of salvaging a point suffered a setback when, 16 minutes from time, Spiteri was expelled after collecting two bookings, the first for a reckless challenge on Briffa and the second for dissent.

When Zammit gave away possession in midfield, danger loomed for the Spartans as Floriana broke on the counter through Mark Spiteri. The young midfielder quickly released Darmanin who unmarked Sacha Borg whose grounder flashed just wide.

With 12 minutes left, a drive from Fenech sailed over. Another Floriana breakaway undid the Spartans defence as Ghebru, a second-half substitute, delivered an excellent ball to Sacha Borg but the latter's rising shot drew a fine save from Cassar.

Floriana
J. Micallef-7, J. Briffa-5, O. Bugeja-4, B. Said-5, S. Grima-4, C. Borg-5 ('85 J. Borg), S. Lijeskic-4, M. Spiteri-7, J. Brincat-5 ('78 M. Ghebru), C. Ciantar-6.5 ('66 S. Borg-6.5), R. Darmanin-5.5.

Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar-7, A. Attard ('21 J. Holland, '46 G. Spiteri), R. Fenech-5, M. Micallef-5, M. Mifsud-4, M. Hrubsa-4, O. Obiefule-6, L.J. Agius-5.5, M. Pereira-5, C. Camoin-6, I. Zammit-4.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Ciantar; Lijeskic; Grima; Spiteri; C. Borg; Fenech; Zammit.

Red card: Spiteri (Ħ) 74.

BOV player of the match: Ryan Darmanin (Floriana).