Valletta 3
Toure 45; Fenech 69; Caruana 82;
Floriana 0
Not so long ago, the derby between Valletta and Floriana was one of the highlights of the local football calendar but this season’s second round derby failed to live up to that billing.
This owed to a number of reasons, notably the huge gap between the two teams in the table, the arctic weather and, indubitably, the fact that yesterday’s derby clashed with the game “the world had been waiting for”, the Champions League encounter between Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Maltese football will never match the glamour of the Champions League and our clubs will never scale the heights of Real or United but, in the domestic context, yesterday’s derby was significant for both teams, especially for champions Valletta who needed a win to make sure of starting the Championship Pool in pole position, albeit level with rivals Hibs on 23 points.
The loyal City fans who braved the cold were not disappointed as the champions cruised to a straightforward victory over a lacklustre Floriana whose battling qualities were not enough to bridge the technical gulf with their affluent neighbours.
Led for the first time from the bench by English coach Iain Brunskill, Floriana had done well to weather their opponents’ attacks in the first half but Demba Toure’s opener just before the break shattered their growing confidence as Valletta seized control in second half.
Goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo was drafted into Valletta’s initial XI, replacing the absent Yenz Cini. Valletta coach Mark Miller made another two alterations from the Balzan draw, recalling Denni, back after seeing out a three-match ban, and Roderick Briffa, who has just recovered from a groin problem. Nigerian Abubakar Bello-Osagie, ranked doubtful on the eve of the match, was on the bench while Daniel Bogdanovic was injured.
Brunskill was also forced to tweak his formation from the Hibs game. Making a return for Floriana were Carl Tremarco and Kane Farrugia after serving a one-match ban while Steve Pisani, a second-half substitute against Hibs, made his first start for the Greens.
It was Valletta who mustered the first scoring chance. Jason Vandelannoite nodded the ball on to Mifsud who sped into the box but his grounder ended wide.
This early opportunity underlined Valletta’s attacking intentions as Miller opted for a fluid three-man attack with Mifsud and Denni playing either side of Demba Toure.
Floriana goalkeeper Tony Warner then thwarted Valletta when he pushed away Ryan Fenech’s menacing drive after the latter had been put through by Mifsud.
The flurry of City chances persisted, Warner blocking Mifsud’s strike after good work by Denni.
Set out in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Floriana were pegged back in their own half in the opening 10 minutes. A flash of brilliance from Igor Coronado produced a chance for the Greens as the Brazilian veered infield from his left station before arrowing a shot that sailed wide of the far post.
Floriana’s initial strategy was to absorb Valletta’s inevitable pressure and try to hit their opponents with quick breakaways but Udo Nwoko was a peripheral figure early on.
Despite Valletta’s early dominance, flowing football was at a premium as the two teams struggled to get to grips with the heavy pitch.
Danger loomed for Valletta when Barbosa made a hash of trying to intercept a pass just outside the area. The loose ball fell invitingly to Nwoko whose dipping effort soared above the diving Bartolo as it it grazed the crossbar.
Eight minutes from half-time, Toure lashed wide after meeting Fenech’s assist but, on the cusp of half-time, the Senegalese put Valletta ahead. Vandelannoite whipped in a teasing cross from the right and Toure headed firmly past Warner.
Coronado, Floriana’s most influential player in the first half, didn’t appear for the second half. His place was taken by Thomas Paris.
As in the first half, Valletta tore into Floriana after half-time but in their first raid, the Greens came close to an equaliser. Roberts, pushed further upfield after Coronado’s exit, raced towards the bye-line before pulling the ball back for Nwoko whose goalbound effort was diverted away for a corner.
Floriana paid dearly for this miss as, 21 minutes from time, Valletta doubled their advantage courtesy of Fenech whose perfectly-flighted free-kick had the better of Warner.
Paris prevented Valletta from extending their lead as he hooked away Jonathan Caruana’s header from Fenech’s corner.
Lightning struck twice for Caruana as, eight minutes from time, he glanced the ball past Warner from Mifsud’s corner after the Floriana goalkeeper had pushed away Bello-Osagie’s attempt.
In stoppage time, Warner twice denied the dominant Valletta when parring away shots by Mifsud and substitute Edmond Agius.
Valletta
M. Bartolo-6, J.L Vandelannoite-6.5 (65 Gabriel-6), L. Dimech-6, J. Caruana-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6.5, W. Barbosa-6.5, R. Fenech-7 (84 E. Agius), R. Briffa-6, M. Mifsud-6.5, D. Toure-6, Denni-5 (65 A. Bello-Osagie-6).
Floriana
T. Warner-6.5, S. Borg-5, C. Tremarco-6, O. Bugeja-6, K. Farrugia-5, G. Roberts-6.5, C. Borg-5, T. Cilia-6 (74 M. Spiteri), S. Pisani-6, I. Coronado-7 (46 T. Paris), U. Nwoko-5.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Tremarco; Roberts; Vandelannoite; Toure; S. Borg; Pisani.
BOV player of the match: Ryan Fenech (Valletta).
Attendance: 674.