Rampant Floriana ease past Blues to consolidate third spot

Marsaxlokk 0
Floriana 4
Grabowski 2; Micallef 40; Mintoff 64; Woods 87 pen;

Floriana strengthened their grip on third place in the Premier League after they eased past bottom team Marsaxlokk in a one-sided encounter.

The Greens’ success was never in doubt as they were in control from the outset.

Once Polish-born winger Andre Grabowski put them ahead after only two minutes, Floriana never looked back.

The Greens, who had the returning Christian Cassar in inspired form, were always a step ahead of their opponents and the margin of their victory would have been far more emphatic had they been more prolific in front of goal.

The win has all but sealed Floriana’s place in the Championship Pool as they are now a staggering 12 points clear of seventh-placed Balzan. More significantly, they are now only two points behind the second-placed Hibs.

On the other hand, Marsaxlokk are facing a real fight to retain their top-flight status after suffering their fourth successive defeat.

Floriana coach Michael Woods named new signing Malcolm Licari, formerly of Marsaxlokk, among his substitutes but handed the former Malta U-21 international his debut in the second half.

Argentine midfielder Pablo Doffo and striker Christian Caruana were both missing for the Greens due to suspension. On a more positive note, midfielder Cassar was back in the fray after suspension kept him out of the 4-2 win over Ħamrun Spartans before the Christmas break.

Trevor Templeman was given the captain’s armband on his return to Marsaxlokk’s starting formation after the midfielder settled his differences with the club. Darrel Grech was the other new face in Anton Cremona’s team while loan signing Craig Debattista was handed a place on the bench.

Floriana were off to a flier, taking just two minutes to force a breakthrough. Onome Sodje’s through-pass was not dealt with by the Marsaxlokk defence and Grabowski profited to storm into the area and plant the ball past young Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Christian Cassar.

The Greens kept up their momentum and on 12 minutes, the woodwork denied them a second goal when Cassar slipped the ball into the path of Sodje who unleashed a powerful drive that came off the post.

On 22 minutes, Marsaxlokk defender Clive Brincat hit a short backpass and in came Grabowski who tried to round Cassar but the goalkeeper managed to halt the Floriana winger’s run.

A minute later, Sodje ran through on the right but his firm drive flashed wide.

On 28 minutes, Cassar again distinguished himself when he denied the goalbound Grabowski after a clever through-ball from Ivan Woods.

Floriana hit the woodwork for the second time three minutes later when Manolito Micallef’s powerful drive from outside the area crashed against the bar with the Marsaxlokk keeper beaten.

The Greens’ dominance produced a second goal five minutes from the break when Grabowski’s cross was deviated by Sodje into the path of Micallef who rifled the ball into the net.

More woes hit the struggling Blues as they lost defender Brincat who limped off injured. He was replaced by Stephan Cutajar.

Floriana maintained their ascendancy at the start of the second half. Inside the first minute, Sodje dispossessed Jonathan Xerri and turned past Cassar but his effort was cleared off the line by Xerri.

That turned out to be Sodje’s last contribution as the Nigerian forward suffered a hand injury and was replaced by Joseph Borg.

Despite this setback, Floriana managed to add a third goal on 64 minutes when Woods released John Mintoff who raced past Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Cassar and stabbed the ball into an empty net.

Marsaxlokk were on the ropes and on 67 minutes Borg fed Woods whose stinging drive flew wide.

Twenty minutes from time, Licari came on for Grabowski. With five minutes left, Licari almost marked his Floriana debut with a goal when he was put through by Woods but chipped the ball just wide.

That was just a temporary reprieve for Marsaxlokk as three minutes from time, Jean Paul Farrugia handled the ball inside the area and a penalty was awarded. Woods stepped up for the penalty and drilled the ball past Cassar.

Marsaxlokk
C. Cassar-6.5, M. Valeriani-5, C. Brincat-5 (41 S. Cutajar-5.5), P. Borg-5.5, J. Xerri-5, T. Templeman-6.5, S. Eboh-6 (82 M. Caruana), J.P. Farrugia-5, G. Caruana-5, D. Grech-5 (55 C. Debattista-5), S. Borg-5.

Floriana
M. Bartolo-6, O. Bugeja-6.5, M. Micallef-7, D. Pisani-6, E. Akoto-6, C. Cassar-8, A. Grabowski-7 (70 M. Licari), T. Paris-6 (65 C. Borg-6), O. Sodje-7 (55 J. Borg-6), I. Woods-7, J. Mintoff-7.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Paris; P. Borg; Sodje.

BOV player of the match: Christian Cassar (Floriana).