Floriana boost European bid

Ħamrun Spartans 0
Floriana 2
Woods 47 pen, 64 pen;

Just like Birkirkara before them, Floriana’s quest for European football ran into a roadblock called Omar Borg yesterday afternoon but unlike their second-place rivals, the Greens kept their composure to emerge unscathed.

Galvanised by his imperious performance in the Spartans’ 2-2 draw with Birkirkara last weekend, Borg had dealt with everything that the sprightly Floriana threw at him in a generally one-sided first half.

Fears that Floriana would come to rue their failure to translate their first-half supremacy into goals fizzled out inside the opening two minutes of the second half as Michael Woods’s forward-moving troops seized the lead.

That Floriana’s opening goal, and eventually the game-clinching second, came from penalties, both converted by man-of-the-match Ivan Woods, attested to Borg’s defiance in goal but those in front him were not at a par with their goalkeeper.

Down in sixth place and with nothing to play for bar pride, the Spartans only attacked sporadically as, for much of the game, they were penned back by the fluid Greens who certainly deserved their win.

Floriana’s task was made easier when their sluggish opponents were reduced to ten men after Nikolai Chipev was dismissed for two bookings early in the second half.

Victory for Floriana keeps them in the driving seat in the race for second spot as they are now five points clear of Birkirkara who face newly-crowned champions Valletta tomorrow.

The emphatic manner of their success sets them up nicely for next weekend’s derby against the Citizens, in the process ensuring a Happy Easter for their fans.

Floriana might have gone ahead as early as the second minute.

Christian Caruana floated the ball into the box where the unmarked Tyrone Farrugia mustered a half-volley but Borg effected a fine save to push the ball away.

The Spartans had a chance of their own on eight minutes when Rupert Mangion’s cross-cum-shot from a left-wing free-kick was misjudged by Lofti Saidi but Mano Micallef was on the right spot to hook the ball away at the far post.

Pouring forward in numbers as soon as they gained possession, Floriana forced the Spartans on the backfoot for most of the opening 20 minutes.

On one occasion, Nwoke outmuscled Bonnici on the left and teed up Woods who tried to hit goalwards but his effort glanced off Fenech. The loose ball fell to Nwoke who had sped into the box but the Nigerian’s grounder was repelled by Borg.

The Ħamrun goalkeeper distinguished himself again with a point-blank save from Dragomir Draganov.

The Greens continued to pound their opponents’ rearguard. They protested for a penalty when Caruana appeared to have been held back by Vukanic close to the bye-line but referee Marco Borg saw nothing untoward.

Another cohesive move by Floriana saw Draganov whip in a cross for Caruana at the far post but the playmaker blasted wide.

In a rare breakaway seven minutes from half-time, the Spartans should have taken the lead. Latching onto a long ball from midfield, Spiteri displayed some neat footwork as his feint left Farrugia rooted to his spot, leaving the way clear for the Ħamrun forward.

Spiteri elected to drift towards goal instead of shooting and his delayed pass towards the advancing Falzon was intercepted by Bugeja.

The Spartans showed more attacking intent as the first half drew to a close. On the cusp of half-time, Spiteri made headway through the middle before slipping a pass to Falzon on the left but the latter’s cross-cum-shot rolled wide of the far post.

Referee Borg further incurred the wrath of the Floriana supporters when he deemed that Nwoke had barged into the onrushing Borg as he leapt to head Woods’s service from the right. Borg managed to punch the ball away but the referee stopped play for a foul by Nwoke.

Less than a minute form the start of the second half had elapsed, when Floriana received a boost in the shape of a penalty after Vukanic was adjudged to have stuck out an arm to block Caruana’s cross.

The onerous task of beating penalty-expert Borg from the spot fell on Woods and the veteran forward had the better of the Spartans’ goalkeeper with an angled drive.

Minutes later, the Greens spurned an even better chance to double their lead as Woods eased clear before pulling the ball back for Nwoke who let fly a thunderous drive that flew just over the crossbar.

Floriana’s ploy to get the ball wide and deliver crosses into the box yielded a second penalty and a second goal on 64 minutes.

This time it was Chipev who was penalised for handling Woods’s cross inside the box. Having been cautioned for dissent after Ħamrun conceded the penalty, Chipev was shown a second yellow card followed by the red for his handball infringement.

Woods aimed for the same angle, hitting a low shot past the diving Borg to put Floriana 2-0 ahead.

Two goals ahead and a man up, Floriana were in ascendancy. They may have added to their lead when Joseph Borg mustered a ferocious shot from the distance that sailed over Borg but cannoned off the bar.

With 11 minutes remaining, Nwoke combined strength with speed as he forced his way past two defenders and sped into the box but his grounder ended inches wide of the near post.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-7.5, M. Grima-5 (76 D. Zerafa), R. Mangion-5, R. Fenech-6, M. Pereira-4 (67 D. Kokavessis-5.5), D. Falzon-6, G. Spiteri-6, J. Vukanic-4 (77 K. Magro), N. Chipev, D. Camilleri-5, S. Bonnici-5.

Floriana
L. Saidi-5.5, D. Pisani-6.5, T. Farrugia-6.5, M. Micallef-6, C. Cassar-7, C. Borg-6.5, D. Draganov-6.5 (89 M. Gauci), C. Caruana-6.5 (77 J. Borg), I. Woods-7.5, D. Nwoke-6.5 (84 M. El Yamani), O. Bugeja-6.5.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Nwoke; Falzon; Vukanic, Chipev.

Red card: Chipev (Ħ) 64.

BOV player of the match: Ivan Woods (Floriana).