Floriana 2 Zebbug 0
Floriana were back in business today after drawing blank against Qormi. This time around, Floriana averted what could have been another upset but two goals inside the opening half an hour settled their nerves, putting them on the way to a deserved win.
Floriana’s resolve to take full points was in evidence when they seized the lead after 28 minutes.
Emanuel Briffa combined and power to dispossess Matthew Bartolo on the right flank before sending in a low cross towards the far post where Vito Plut stabbed the ball past Jeffrey Farrugia.
Three minutes later, Floriana again had the ball in the Zebbug net when Paltemio Barbetti blocked Amadou Samb’s shot with his hand, although it appeared to be accidental. Farrugia saved Matteo Piciollo’s spot-kick but the Italian striker followed up to score the rebound.
The Rangers created their first glimmer of a chance after 33 minutes when Carlo Monti’s free-kick spread panic in the Floriana defence whose partial clearance fell to Rashid Yussuff but his effort was hooked off the line.
Two goals to the good, Floriana maintained an iron grip on the match as Zebbug offered very little going forward.
But hardly two minutes from the start of the second half had expired when Zebbug cut the deficit. Miguel Ciantar advanced towards the box before picking out Mauricio Britto who served Yussuff as he accelerated into the box and dispatched an angled shot past Matthew Calleja Cremona.
After 72 minutes, Floriana squandered an inciting chance to put the issue beyond their opponents’ reach as substitute Giovanni Galea let fly a rasping grounder that Farrugia turned away for a corner.
On the other side of the pitch, Calleja Cremona rescued his team from a dangerous situation as he made a timely block to deny Monti from free-kick.
But, Zebbug’s hopes ebbed away when Bartolo’s long-range effort was blocked by Marcelina with his arms but their penalty appeals were turned away by referee Alan Mario Sant. Undeterred by the protests, the Greens transferred the ball quickly upfield to Briffa who outpaced Farrugia to wrap up Floriana’s win.
BIRKIRKARA SEE OFF TARXIEN
Birkirkara had little difficulty to see off bottom side Tarxien Rainbows 2-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Hibs Stadium.
Birkirkara held the initiative right from the outset but it was Tarxien who created the first chance.
The clock marked 17 minutes when Jorge Pereira raced past his marker to burst into the area but his curling drive was blocked by goalkeeper Justin Haber.
Birkirkara responded six minutes later when Herrera chipped the ball towards Ryan Camenzuli who saw his effort blocked by Sean Mintoff, the Tarxien goalkeeper.
That was a temporary reprieve for the Rainbows as the Stripes struck three minutes later. From a free-kick action, Ryan Scicluna’s cross was met by Nikola Vukanac who directed his header into the net.
Birkirkara kept control of proceedings and they took further grip on the match seven minutes from the break when they doubled their lead.
Zach Muscat sent a curling cross towards the unmarked Shola Shodiya who had little difficulty to head past Mintoff.
The Nigerian almost struck again two minutes from the break when he outmuscled Matthew Tabone but with only Mintoff to beat he lost his balance to direct the ball wide.
On 54 minutes, Herrera made headway on the right channel and sent a dangerous cross towards the sprinting Camenzuli who just failed to make contact with the ball.
The Rainbows had the ball in the Birkirkara net on 72 minutes when Pereira released Darlington who planted the ball past Haber but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.
Birkirkara midfielder Paul Fenech was voted as the BOV Player of the match.