Floriana 3
Fontanella 30 pen.; Bonnici 72; Scozzese 76;
Qormi 0

Floriana got their season up and running after they brushed aside Qormi in a one-sided encounter yesterday.

It was a commanding performance from Floriana who held the initiative for most of the match and once they found a breakthrough midway through the first half there was no way back for Qormi.

Floriana’s Italian attacking trident of Enrico Chiesa, Mario Fontanella and Mauricio Villa continuously tormented the Qormi defence with their excellent link-up play to lead the team to their first win of the season.

Floriana coach Luis Oliveira roped in defender Andrea Scozzese to fill the void left by Enrico Pepe who was serving a one-match ban.

Qormi handed a debut to Guinea defender Ousmane Sidibe who replaced the injured Billy Bernstton but striker Terrence Vella was not in the squad.

It was Floriana who had the first attempt at goal on 19 minutes when Antonio Monticelli picked Villa but his header flew over.

Qormi were showing good defensive organisation much to the frustration of the Greens who were struggling to find a way through.

However, that all changed on 30 minutes when Sidibe stopped Villa’s shot with his hands and referee Esther Azzopardi pointed to the penalty spot.

Fontanella stepped up for the spot-kick and blasted his shot into the net.

The Floriana striker almost struck again on 36 minutes but this time he was denied by the woodwork as his drive came off the crossbar.

On the restart one expected Qormi to step up their game but it was Floriana who continued tocreate opportunities.

On 51 minutes, Fontanella released Conor Borg but he fired over from a good position.

Qormi hit back three minutes later when Ryan Micallef muscled his way into the Greens’ box before hitting a rasping grounder that just missed the upright.

Juninho, who had just replaced Villa, almost left an instant mark on 69 minutes when he was put clear by Monticelli but his angled drive was pushed away by goalkeeper Andreas Vella.

But that second goal duly arrived on 72 minutes when Vella misjudged Chiesa’s cross with the ball falling to Juninho who quickly lobbed the ball over for Steve Bonnici to head inside an empty net.

Qormi looked a dejected lot and the game was all but over four minutes later. Chiesa sent a dipping cross towards Scozzese who headed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Matteo Piciollo, who had just replaced Fontanella, almost struck with his first touch but his volley finished just the Qormi goal-frame.

Floriana
M. Calleja Cremona-6, E. Briffa-6, S. Bonnici-6.5, A. Scozzese-6.5, J. Pisani-6, Clyde Borg-6, Conor Borg-6 (82 S. Pisani), A. Monticelli-6, N. Chiesa-6.5, M. Villa-6.5 (64 Juninho-6), M. Fontanella-7 (73 M. Piciollo).

Qormi
A. Vella-5, A. Cassar-5, O. Sidibe-5, N. Ojuola-5, E. Vella-5.5, J. Chetcuti-6, K. Magro-5 (81 S. Zammit), C. Monti-5 (75 C. Barbara), G. Azzopardi-5, R. Micallef-5 (76 S. Agius), A. Nilsson-5.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Sidibe, Micallef.

BOV player of the match: Mario Fontanella (Floriana).

Standings