Floriana bounce back with Old Firm derby win

Floriana joined Balzan in fifth place in the BOV Premier League table as they registered a 2-0 win over Old Firm derby rivals Sliema Wanderers.

The Greens were a much improved side after losing heavily to Hibernians last week while Sliema disappointed throughout the ninety minutes as they suffered the third defeat in four matches.

The Wanderers lacked the suspended Mark Scerri but welcomed back Filippo Andrea Scozzese. Also missing for the Blues were Alex Muscat, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Paltemio Barbetti, Marko Potezica and Andrea Pisanu. Floriana, on the other hand, handed the debut to young goalkeeper Tyrone Gauci who replaced Valerio Senatore while the returning Gary Muir was awarded a place in the starting line-up in lieu of Conor Borg.

The Greens held the initiative in the early stages, going close with an angled shot by Amadou Samb which was however neutralised by Zammit on the 13th.

Floriana took the lead on 32 minutes when off a good run on the left by Vito Plut, his cross was well-met by Amadou Samb who headed the ball home past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

Plut missed an excellent opportunity, when served by Andre Scicluna, but his low shot from inside the area was somehow blocked by the Sliema custodian four minutes from the end of the first half. A minute later, a Gary Muir freekick was tipped into a corner by the goalkeeper.

Ten minutes in the second half, Floriana went close once again with a shot from just inside the area by Manuel Briffa which scraped past the post. The Greens then appealed for a penalty after Muir ended on the ground when tackled by Scozzese.

Stefano Bianciardi almost committed an own goal when he deflected the ball off a Clyde Borg freekick with the ball hitting the posts on 65 minutes.

Eight minutes from time, Floriana doubled the score when Amadou Samb concluded a good move with a perfect pass for substitute Conor Borg who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

FLORIANA Tyrone Gauci, Andre Scicluna, Douglas Felipe Moreira Cobo, Clyde Borg (80′ Emerson Marcelina), Vito Plut, Matteo Piciollo (75′ Steve Pisani), Manuel Briffa, Amadou Samb, Brooke Farrugia (62′ Conor Borg), Gary Muir, Steve Bonnici.
Subs not used: Andrew Zammit, Neil Spiteri, Giovanni Galea, Isaac Galea.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Luca Martinelli, Filippo Andrea Scozzese, Guy Gnaboyou, John Mintoff, Michael Mifsud, Peter Xuereb (82′ Filippo Talato), Fabio Mangiacasale, Bocar Djumo (60′ Trevor Cilia), Beppe Muscat (76′ Aidan Jake Friggieri), Stefano Bianciardi.
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Iousef Meli, Clive Psaila, Carl Cassar.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Thomas Debono
Additional Assistant Referees: Clayton Pisani, Fyodor Zammit
Fourth Official: Duncan Sultana
Yellow Cards: Mangiacasale, Bianciardi, Scicluna, Marcelina, Scozzese
BOV Player of the Match: Amadou Samb