Daniel Nwoke was the hero for Floriana as he scored four goals in a 5-1 win for the Greens over Birkirkara. A win which puts Michael Woods’ side in second place, one point ahead of Marsaxlokk and two ahead of Birkirkara.
The Stripes disappointed as they failed to react, leaving their opponents comfortably in control throughout the whole ninety minutes.
Goalkeeper Lotfi Saidi came to the rescue for Floriana on the 4th minute when he rushed to the edge of the area and dribbled three players in an attack for Birkirkara.
Floriana managed to take the lead on 11 minutes when Daniel Nwoke took advantage of some misunderstanding between the Birkirkara rear-guard and the Nigerian striker slotted the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.
Nine minutes later, Daniel Nwoke received a through pass on the right and after rounding the goalkeeper, he placed the ball inside the empty net.
On 29 minutes, Daniel Nwoke scored his third goal when he received a through pass by Woods and advanced into the area before hitting low past Bartolo.
Birkirkara had a good opportunity to reduce the gap on 36 minutes but Ryan Scicluna hit high with a first-timer from close-range.
The Stripes however managed to reduce the gap six minutes from the end of the first half when goalkeeper Lotfi Saidi failed to control the ball following a cross from the right by Trevor Cilia and Michael Galea slammed the ball home.
Two minutes later, the Tunisian goalkeeper made up for this mistake as he neutralised a shot from close range by Michael Galea after being served by Cilia.
Five minutes in the second half, Daniel Nwoke stole the ball off Andrei Agius and beat Bartolo to make it 4-1.
On the hour, Birkirkara were reduced to ten men after Andrei Agius received a second yellow for handling the ball to score.
Five minutes from time, Ivan Woods scored the fifth goal with a direct freekick which gave goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo no chance.
Daniel Nwoke was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.fotoincmalta.com
B’KARA Manuel Bartolo, Trevor Cilia, Paul Fenech, Nikola Vukanac (46’ Joseph Zerafa), Ryan Scicluna (46’ Ibrahim Babatunde), Emiliano Lattes, Rowen Muscat, Andrew Decesare, Andrei Agius, Michael Galea, Angus Buhagiar (78’ Shaun Bajada).
Subs not used: Karl Magri, Rodolfo Kumbrevicius, Karl Pulo, Terence Vella.
Coach: Paul Zammit
Asst. Coach: Branko Nisevic
FLORIANA Lotfi Saidi, Duncan Pisani, Tyrone Farrugia, Thomas Paris (89’ Sacha Borg), Manolito Micallef, Christian Cassar, Christian Caruana, Pablo Doffo, Mohammed El Yamani (46’ Clyde Borg), Ivan Woods, Daniel Nwoke (87’ Joseph Borg).
Subs not used: Matthew Towns, Brian Said, Mauro Di Lello, Mark Gauci.
Coach: Michael Woods
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Mariano Debono, Edward Spiteri
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: Agius, Nwoke, Bartolo, Paris, Decesare
Red Cards: 60’ Andrei Agius
Scorers: 11’ Daniel Nwoke (F), 20’ Daniel Nwoke (F), 29’ Daniel Nwoke (F); 39’ Michael Galea (B); 50’ Daniel Nwoke (F); 85’ Ivan Woods (F)
An early goal by Edmond Agius enabled Valletta to move ten points clear on top the BOV Premier League table as they defeated Tarxien Rainbows 1-0.
The Citizens had an edge over their opponents in a game which lacked goal-mouth action.
Denni Rocha Dos Santos and Ian Zammit were missing for Valletta with Lee Galea being unavailable for the Rainbows as he was serving a one-match ban.
Valletta managed to take the lead on the 2nd minute thanks to Edmond Agius whose diagonal shot from the right beat goalkeeper David Cassar.
Gilbert Agius went close to increasing the lead on 23 minutes with a powerful shot from the left which was turned into a corner by the Tarxien custodian. From the resulting corner by Roderick Briffa, the City captain had another fine attempt turned into a corner by Cassar.
Tarxien replied with a rising shot by Ricardo Costa which ended high on 35 minutes.
Two minutes in the second half, Antunes Anderson, served by Ryan Fenech from the left, had a shot from inside the area parried by the Tarxien goalkeeper.
On 68 minutes, following a cross by Ian Azzopardi, a header by Gilbert Agius was blocked by Cassar.
In stoppage time, following a cross from the right by substitute Sergio Hili, Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues flicked the ball but Andrew Hogg saved.
Gilbert Agius was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.fotoincmalta.com
TARXIEN David Cassar, Manuel Caruana (74’ Sergio Hili), Everton Antonio Pereira, Ricardo Costa (70’ Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues), Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira, Daniel Mariano Bueno, Luke Vella Critien, Julian Vella (82’ Gianluca Calabretta), Orosco Anonam, Ryan Mintoff, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Andre Farrugia, Jean Luca Caruana, Albert Spiteri.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Asst. Coach: Michael Church
VALLETTA Andrew Hogg, Steve Borg, Ian Azzopardi, Ramon Dos Santos, Jonathan Caruana, Gilbert Agius (82’ Terence Scerri), Edmond Agius, Jamie Pace, Andrade Antunes Anderson, Roderick Briffa (71’ Kevin Sammut), Ryan Fenech (87’ Omonigho Temile).
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Kurt Magro, Dylan D’Agostino, Kenneth Scicluna.
Coach: Leonard Farrugia
Asst. Coach: Jesmond Zerafa
Referee: Andre Arciola
Assistant Referees: Konrad Borg, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Paul Caruana
Yellow Cards: Calabretta, Hogg
Scorers: 2’ Edmond Agius
Attendance: 2,786