Floriana 1
Grabowski 57;
Tarxien Rainbows 0

Floriana are gaining stability. Defying negative pre-season forecasts, the Greens are now third in the table behind Valletta and Hibs after securing their eighth win of the season against Tarxien Rainbows.

Despite missing key players such as Ivan Woods, Christian Caruana and Tyrone Farrugia, Floriana relied on their fighting spirit and teamwork as they turned in another bold performance. Theirs is a straightforward gameplan – they deliver the ball early into the penalty area as they sought to take advantage of the aerial strength of the likes of Ryan Darmanin and Andre Grabowski.

In wide areas, Christian Cassar and Clyde Borg received support from John Mintoff and Duncan Pisani.

Yet, it was a tactical change by Michael Woods at half-time that proved decisive. The Floriana coach moved Grabowski to his usual central position, where he looked a completely different player, and Mintoff took over on the wing.

The Rainbows had started the brighter and within the second minute, Daniel Mariano Bueno brought a low save out of Floriana goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo. But the Brazilian was then stretchered off after falling victim to injury.

Without a cover for the striker on the bench, Curmi brought on defender-cum-midfielder Lee Galea and changed some players’ positions.

Midway through the first half, Grabowski sliced through Tarxien’s right flank but Darmanin rushed his finish, shooting high over the bar.

Tarxien suffered another injury blow on 24 minutes as Stefan Giglio was forced to abandon proceedings. Ryan Mintoff reverted to centre-half with substitute Steven Sadowski playing at left-back, Galea on the right and Orosco Anonam moving further up on the left wing.

Floriana almost took advantage of the defensive readjustment as Darmanin rose to meet Mintoff’s cross but Tarxien goalkeeper David Cassar saved well after 27 minutes.

Bartolo had an easier task to save from Anonam’s low drive 10 minutes later as the Rainbows tried to break the Greens’ momentum.

But Floriana’s central defensive partnership of Pablo Doffo and Owen Bugeja dominated Tarxien’s front line for most of this game and the only time Adrian Carabott got away from them, his header from Karl Pulo’s cross was saved by Bartolo six minutes into the second half.

The ball was moved quickly to Manolito Micallef and on to Mintoff who crossed for Grabowski. The Swedish midfielder timed his run well to pull Cassar off his line, chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and comfortably headed the ball into an empty net.

Mintoff and Grabowski combined again two minutes later. This time, the on-loan Sliema winger sprinted past Sadowski before squaring the ball towards his team-mate who headed over.

The margin by which Floriana improved when Grabowski switched to a more central position was revealing.

After 57 minutes, Mintoff drove again unmarked down the right and with Cassar darting in behind, he cleverly shifted the ball to the midfielder who crossed the ball for Grabowski who headed wide.

Tarxien threatened occasionally but continued to look a shadow of last season’s side. The Rainbows began to enjoy spells of pressure but Floriana foiled them with some determined blocks and challenges. On one particular occasion, Justin Grioli’s free-kick was punched away by Bartolo.

But Grabowski demonstrated the verve that has made him such a coveted asset for Floriana with another surging run from his own half before serving Darmanin who should have made it two-nil but drove his shot against the feet of Cassar.

The ball fell to substitute Brooke Farrugia who hit just wide.

At the death, David Cassar denied Christian Cassar when tipping the Floriana midfielder’s free-kick over the bar.

Floriana
M. Bartolo-7, M. Micallef-6, D. Pisani-6, P. Doffo-7, O. Bugeja-7, C. Borg-6 (87 B. Farrugia), C. Cassar-7.5, J. Mintoff-8, A. Grabowski-8.5, T. Paris-6.5, R. Darmanin-5.

Tarxien Rainbows
D. Cassar-6.5, C. Sammut-5, Everton-6, A. Carabott-6 (82 W. Zerafa), K. Pulo-6, D.M. Bueno (9 L. Galea-5), O. Anonam-6, R. Mintoff-5, J. Grioli-6, S. Giglio (24 S. Sadowski-5), M. Caruana-6.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Yellow cards: Grioli; Borg; Sammut; Caruana.

BOV player of the match: Andre Grabowski (Floriana).

Attendance: 876.

Standings