Despite playing for over fifty minutes in ten men, Floriana returned to winning ways as they defeated Tarxien Rainbows 2-1.
The two goalkeepers – Lotfi Saidi for Floriana and David Cassar for Tarxien – were prominent in the first thirty minutes with a series of fine saves.
Floriana took the lead on 33 minutes when a Christian Cassar freekick was not held by David Cassar and Dragomir Draganov placed the ball at the back of the net from close range.
Five minutes from the end of the first half, Saidi rushed out of the area to stop Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues from beating him. An incident which brought harsh protests by the Rainbows as they argued that the Tunisian goalkeeper handled the ball outside the area but referee Paul Caruana waved play on.
On 43 minutes, Floriana were reduced to ten men after Pablo Doffo tackled Daniel Mariano Bueno from behind as the latter was about to enter the penalty area. The referee gave the Argentinean midfielder marching orders.
The Greens doubled the score two minutes in the second half when off a Christian Cassar freekick from the left, the ball was flicked by Daniel Nwoke past goalkeeper Cassar.
Manolito Micallef came to the rescue on 55 minutes, clearing into a corner a goal-bound effort by Sergio Pacheco off the goal-line. Four minutes later, Bueno served Sergio Pacheco from the left and the latter’s diagonal shot scraped past the post.
On the hour, Saidi saved at point blank a Cristiano close-range effort. Floriana replied with a cross by Christian Cassar from the right on 65 minutes from which Ivan Woods hit high. On the other side of the pitch, the Floriana goalkeeper parried a low shot by substitute Ricardo Costa. A few minutes later, Saidi performed another great save on Calabretta.
Tarxien scored a consolation goal two minutes from time through Daniel Mariano Bueno who hit home from close range following a cross by Calabretta from the right.
Manolito Micallef was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
Photos: Copyright © James Galea www.fotoincmalta.com
TARXIEN David Cassar, Steve Sadowski, Manuel Caruana (79’ Ryan Mintoff), Everton Antonio Pereira, Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues (62’ Ricardo Costa), Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira, Daniel Mariano Bueno, Julian Vella, Orosco Anonam, Lee Galea, Justin Grioli (50’ Gianluca Calabretta).
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Andre Farrugia, Sergio Hili, Warren Zerafa
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Asst. Coach: Michael Church
FLORIANA Lotfi Saidi, Duncan Pisani, Tyrone Farrugia, Pablo Doffo, Thomas Paris (46’ Owen Bugeja), Christian Cassar, Christian Caruana, Dragomir Draganov (81’ Joseph Borg), Ivan Woods, Daniel Nwoke (94′ Sacha Borg), Manolito Micallef.
Subs not used: Matthew Towns, Clyde Borg, Brian Said, Mohammed El Yamani.
Coach: Michael Woods
Referee: Paul Caruana
Assistant Referees: Philip Agius, Joe Camilleri
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Grioli, Micallef, Sadowski, L. Galea
Red Cards: 43’ Pablo Doffo
Scorers: 33’ Dragomir Draganov (F), 47’ Daniel Nwoke (F); 88’ Daniel Mariano Bueno (T)
Attendance: 436
Sliema Wanderers scored two late goals to conclude their commitments for season 2010/11 with a 2-0 win over Vittoriosa Stars.
The Blues lacked Josef Mifsud, Miguel Ciantar and goalkeeper Henry Bonello while Murilo Maccari was missing for the Stars.
A goal by Obinna Obiefule was disallowed for the Nigerian striker’s offside position on 15 minutes. Five minutes later, following a cross from the right, Jackson Lima’s powerful drive was turned into a corner. Vittoriosa replied with an angled shot from the left by Jorge Santos Silva which just missed the target.
Vittoriosa goalkeeper Jean Vella performed a great save on a fine Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza effort from close range when served by Jackson Lima from the left on 33 minutes.
Clayton Failla went close for Sliema with a direct freekick which ended just wide twenty-five minutes in the second half.
Sliema managed to break the deadlock on 77 minutes when Obinna Obiefule received a perfect pass on the right and his diagonal shot beat goalkeeper Jean Vella.
A minute later, Vittoriosa could have notched the equaliser but goalkeeper Viktor Szentpeteri performed a great save on Edison Luis Dos Santos who had concluded a solo effort with a good shot from outside the area.
Four minutes from time, Sliema doubled the score when the Vittoriosa goalkeeper failed to hold the ball following a cross and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza placed the ball at the back of the net with a fine rising shot.
Jackson Lima was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
SLIEMA Viktor Szentpeteri, Mark Scerri (61’ Adam Spiteri), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Steve Bezzina, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Jackson Lia Sequeira, Obinna Obiefule (79’ Julian Briffa), Roderick Bajada, John Mintoff (75’ James Paris), Beppe Muscat, Clayton Failla.
Subs not used: Keane Cutajar, Alex Muscat, Noel Turner, Ryan Dalli.
Coach: Danilo Doncic
Asst. Coach: Joseph Bajada
VITTORIOSA Jean Vella, Clayton Micallef, Carl Sammut, Ryan Grech (82’ Jeffrey Chetcuti), Mauro Brincat (59’ Alan Tabone), Edison Luis Dos Santos, Larry Lagana (64’ Leighton Grech), Jorge Santos Silva, Anthony Ewurum, Jonathan Xerri, Carlos Campagnoli.
Subs not used: Simon Agius, Steve Wellman, Dino Cachia, Justin Camilleri.
Coach: Winston Muscat
Asst. Coach: Darren Abdilla
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Esther Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: Lagana, Tabone, Gatt Baldacchino
Scorers: 77’ Obinna Obiefule, 86’ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza