Floriana 3
Farrugia 54 og, Sodje 79, Doffo 90;
Balzan Youths 1
Pace 50;
Floriana started the road of recovery after the controversy surrounding the sacking of Michael Woods by returning back to winning ways following a hard-fought victory over Balzan Youths.
Coach Joe Brincat enjoyed a winning start in his first match in charge but had to wait almost an hour for the Greens to move up a gear before finally showing some quality to see off their opponents.
Pablo Doffo enlivened a dour encounter with three of his trade-mark free-kicks, first forcing defender Roderick Farrugia to divert the ball into his own net, then by putting the ball on Omonje Sodje’s head, swiftly followed by a spectacular direct free-kick to confirm all points for the Greens.
At the final whistle, Floriana were able to see some light at the end of the tunnel as their comfortable victory ensured they moved Birkirkara in third place.
Balzan could have taken the lead after 17 minutes when a one-two between Pedrinho and Deanov ended with the latter unleashing a drive that finished just wide.
Following a series of dangerous moves, Floriana took total control of midfield and Ivan Zammit showed his concern by making two tactical substitutions four minutes before half-time, replacing Glenn Bonello and Michael Borg with Bjorn Bondin and Nikola Tasic respectively.
The half-time whistle sparked a heated row between Ivan Woods and Balzan Youths coach Zammit who was ordered off the bench.
Zammit made it just in time to the stands to watch Jamie Pace’s wonder goal on 50 minutes.
Tasic chipped the ball towards goal but Paris dashed backward to clear with an overhead kick but the clearance fell to Pace who fired home the ball with a first-time dipping shot.
But there was barely time for celebrations as Floriana equalised almost immediately.
On 55 minutes, Doffo curled the ball off the near post from a free-kick, Darmanin raced in to head the ball into the net but was anticipated by Roderick Farrugia who inadvertently deviated past Jansen.
Pace gave Jansen another moment of anxiety in the 70th minute when the Dutchman pushed his shot away from a free-kick.
Balzan were keeping Floriana at arm’s length with very few alarms and comfortable in possession. Yet their plans were wrecked in the 72nd minute when Jonathan Francica was dismissed for dissent.
The Greens took full advantage of their numerical superiority when Doffo whipped in another free-kick as Sodje rose above everyone to divert the ball home.
Eight minutes from time, Balzan finished in nine when substitute Tasic clapped ironically at the referee who showed him a second yellow card followed by a red.
Doffo smashed home a free-kick just before the final whistle.
Floriana’s celebrations were somewhat spoiled when Caruana swas shown red for his nasty challenge on Roderick Farrugia.
Floriana: P. Jansen-6, E. Akoto-6, P. Doffo-8, M. Licari-6 (90 T. Farrugia), T. Paris-6.5, J. Borg-6 (88 C. Borg), I.Woods-6, A. Grabowski-5 (52 O. Sodje-7), C. Caruana, M.Micallef-6 R. Darmanin-6.
Balzan Youths: M.Camilleri-5, J. Francica, Y. Camilleri-5, G. Bonello-4.5 (38 N.Tasic), J. Pace-7.5, L. Micallef-5, Pedrinho-6, M. Deanov-5, M. Borg-4 (41 B. Bondin-6), R. Forace-5, R. Farrugia-5.
Referee: André Arciola.
Yellow cards: L. Micallef, Bondin, Francica, Camilleri, Woods, Tasic.
Red cards: Francica (B) 72; Tasic (B) 82; Caruana (F) 90.
BOV Player of the match: Pablo Doffo (Floriana).
Attendance: 527.