Balzan Youths 0
Floriana 1
“When the Greens go marching in” sang the mirthful Floriana fans as their team kept their FA Trophy defence bid on track with a 1-0 win over fellow Premier League side Balzan Youths yesterday.
With Balzan flying high in the championship, this was widely viewed as a tricky match for Floriana but, for the umpteenth time this season, Michael Woods’s well-drilled outfit emerged from this test with flying colours.
The 1-0 scoreline might suggest that the game was a close affair but the Greens were the better side throughout. They again showed good tactical organisation, a sound work ethic and creative movement in the final third to swat aside the battling but toothless Balzan Youths who only threatened sporadically.
Balzan ought to have derived fresh inspiration after Floriana squandered an early penalty but with Pedrinho shadowed by the unyielding Pablo Doffo, the Youths failed to make the most of their good fortune as Andre Grabowski’s goal early in the second half was enough for the holders to progress to the quarter-finals.
Eric Akoto was handed the chance to redeem himself for his sending-off in the early stages of the 2-1 league win over Qormi last weekend as the Togo international retained his place in Floriana’s starting XI.
Woods made only one change from the Qormi game, Christian Cassar receiving the nod ahead of John Mintoff.
For Balzan, Lins Fagner Bernardes replaced the injured Nikola Tasic while goalkeeper Fredrick Tabone was awarded a rare start as regular no.1 Matthew Camilleri began on the bench.
It was the Greens who showed the brighter ideas in the opening exchanges. They should have put their noses in front after 10 minutes when Cassar twisted his way past Bjorn Bondin on the left before delivering an inviting cross into the box but Grabowski headed wide.
Floriana’s early dominance should have produced a breakthrough on 12 minutes as the Greens were awarded a penalty after Anthony Eviparker barged into Woods as the latter ran into the box to reach a pass from Grabowski.
Woods picked himself up but his low strike from the spot hit the base of a post.
In an isolated foray into Floriana’s half, Pedrinho cut in from the right and pulled the ball back for Bernardes whose first-time shot grazed the near post.
Balzan would have fallen behind were it not for goalkeeper Tabone who, having fisted away Cassar’s dipping cross, reacted quickly to keep out Grabowski’s follow-up drive.
Close to the half-hour mark, Rennie Forace made headway on the left and laid the ball back to Bondin whose firm drive from outside the area ended high and wide.
At the other end, Grabowski blasted over after receiving another fine cross from Cassar.
Zammit brought on David Fenech for Bondin late in the first half and moved Dylan Grima to central midfield. At the start of the second period, Malcolm Licari replaced Borg for Floriana.
Woods should have atoned for his penalty miss but the striker miscued his volley after being teed up by Grabowski five minutes into the second half.
Floriana went ahead nine minutes after the restart. Doffo’s free-kick caused mayhem in the Balzan box as Grabowski’s first attempt was partially cleared by Forace but the Swedish winger hit home from the rebound.
Moments later, Grabowski’s dangerous strike was deflected away for a corner by Grima as Floriana remained on top.
Licari charged clear on the left and cut the ball back for Cassar who let fly a venomous drive that skimmed the upright.
The erstwhile subdued Balzan threatened an equaliser on 62 minutes when Pedrinho’s cross from a free-kick sparked a goalmouth melee and Eviparker powered his shot over the bar.
With Doffo curbing the influence of Pedrinho – who was infuriated by the robust approach of his opponents, Balzan struggled to cope with Floriana’s assiduous pressing.
The Greens controlled Balzan’s efforts with relative ease but rarely threatened to add to Grabowski’s opener.
In the dying moments, Tabone, the Balzan goalkeeper, dived at the feet of Grabowski as Balzan struggled to deal with a cross from the left.
Fourth official Adrian Azzopardi signalled three minutes of added time but nothing happened in the game’s finale as Floriana held on to their lead to march on in the Cup.
Balzan Youths: F. Tabone, B. Guga, J. Francica, Y. Camilleri, R. Forace (83 L. Micallef), M. Deanov, D. Grima, B. Bondin (40 D. Fenech), L.F. Bernardes (75 N. Tasic), Pedrinho, A. Eviparker.
Floriana: M. Bartolo, E. Akoto, O. Bugeja, D. Pisani, M. Micallef, P. Doffo, C. Cassar (87 J. Mintoff), C. Caruana, A. Grabowski, I. Woods, C. Borg (46 M. Licari, 84 J. Borg).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Missed penalty: Woods (F) 12.