Vittoriosa Stars 1
Grech 74;
Floriana 6
Nwoke 14, 17; Woods 45, 49 pen, Draganov 47; Micallef 81;
Floriana’s rise in the Premier League table continued yesterday when the Greens crushed bottom-placed Vittoriosa Stars to go second, level on 24 points with Tarxien.
It was a sublime performance from the resurgent Greens. Inspired by the deadly finishing and movement of strikers Daniel Nwoke and Ivan Woods, who bagged a brace each, Floriana recorded the biggest victory in the Premier League this season.
The Greens thus extended their winning run to three consecutive matches to virtually make sure of a place in the Championship Pool.
Todor Raykov effected one change from the team that beat Ħamrun Spartans the previous week as midfielder Christian Cassar was ruled out with a knee injury. Clyde Borg was given the nod to take Cassar’s place.
Vittoriosa coach Winston Muscat had to make do without three key players as defenders Jeffrey Chetcuti and Stephen Wellman and Brazilian striker Edison were suspended.
On a better note, Brazilian midfielder Murilo Maccari was given his debut in place of the injured Carlos Campagnoli while former Tarxien Rainbows midfielder Ryan Grech also made his first appearance as a second-half substitute.
Floriana did the early running. They came close to forging ahead after 12 minutes when Christian Caruana curled in a cross from the left but Woods’s diving header was too central to trouble Simon Agius.
This was the prelude to Floriana’s opener which came two minutes later. Nwoke was first to react to Pablo Doffo’s well-taken free-kick as the Nigerian beat his marker and flicked the ball past Agius.
The Stars were struggling to cope with Floriana’s attacking threat and three minutes later, the Greens struck again.
It was the lethal partnership of Nwoke and Woods that unlocked the Vittoriosa defence as the Nigerian released the veteran forward who sprinted into the area and squared the ball towards his team-mate who fired past Agius.
Floriana were in total control and on 26 minutes, Nwoke almost scored his third. Receiving the ball from Brian Said, Nwoke hit a shot on the turn that was pushed out by Agius. From the rebound, Woods’s effort was deflected away for a corner.
Ten minutes from half-time, Woods’s swerving free-kick was easily blocked by Agius.
Four minutes from the break, the Floriana fans shouted ‘penalty’ when Caruana was grounded by a challenge from Karl Sammut but referee Glenn Tonna booked the nippy forward for simulation.
With Vittoriosa looking short of inspiration, it was no surprise that, on the stroke of half-time, the Stars conceded a third.
The goal came from another set-piece as Doffo’s dipping cross was met by Woods whose header gave Agius no chance.
After the interval, the pattern of the game remained the same. Two minutes into the second half, Floriana extended their advantage when Nwoke picked out Dragomir Draganov on the edge of the area and the Bulgarian scored with a delightful shot.
More misery befell Vittoriosa a minute later as Justin Camilleri was adjudged to have fouled Woods in the area. The Floriana forward made no mistake from the spot to put his team 5-0 up.
That proved to be Woods’s final contribution to the game as he made way for Joseph Borg six minutes later. With the points in the bag, Raykov also brought on Portuguese winger Marcal Fernandes for Doffo.
Vittoriosa almost conceded again 13 minutes into the second half when Tyrone Farrugia was first to a corner taken by Fernandes but his header finished just over.
Just past the hour, Vittoriosa came close to reducing the deficit when Leighton Grech released Jorge who turned past Lofti Saidi but the Brazilian lost his footing and the chance was lost as the ball rolled out of play.
Vittoriosa scored a consolation goal 14 minutes from time when the hard-working Grech sped through and chipped the ball over Saidi.
Floriana hit their sixth goal nine minutes from time. Vittoriosa goalkeeper Jean Vella, who had earlier replaced Agius, charged out of goal to intercept a long ball but his clearance fell to Manolito Micallef who lobbed home to complete the rout.
Vittoriosa
S. Agius-4 (62 J. Vella-5), K. Sammut-5 (58 L. Lagana-4), J. Camilleri-5, S. Pace-4, J. Xerri-5, D. Cachia-5 (85 R. Grech), K. Mifsud-5, Jorge-4, A. Ewurum-4, L. Grech-6, M. Maccari-5.
Floriana
L. Saidi-6, B. Said-6, M. Micallef-7, D. Pisani-6, T. Farrugia-6, P. Doffo-7 (56 M. Fernandes-6), C. Borg-6.5 (87 O. Bugeja), I. Woods-7.5 (56 J. Borg-6), D. Draganov-6.5, C. Caruana-6, D. Nwoke-8.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
Yellow cards: Caruana; Grech; Nwoke; Borg.
BOV player of the match: Daniel Nwoke (Floriana).