Narrow wins for Floriana, Valletta

floriana-mosta161022jonbFloriana returned to winning ways as a goal by captain Nicolas Chiesa gave them a narrow win over Mosta at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

For Mosta, this was the second defeat in three matches and they remain second from bottom on seven points from nine matches.

The Blues had no less than six changes from the team which drew with Tarxien as Yenz Cini, Gabriel Bezak, Dany Djoufack, Jaroslav Repa, Edin Murga and Lucky Victor Oseghale replaced Manuel Bartolo, Luca Martinelli, Ricardo Martin, Kemar Reid, Martin Vlcek and Njongo Priso. On the other hand, for Floriana, Matthew Grech replaced Justin Haber in goal while Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani, Gustavo Amadio and Ignacio Varela replaced Andre Scicluna, Clyde Borg, Ryan Camenzuli and Maurizio Vella.

Floriana managed to take the lead six minutes from the end of the first half when off a throw in from the right, the ball was deflected by a defender and Nicolas Chiesa placed the ball past goalkeeper Yenz Cini.

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MOSTA Yenz Cini, Gabriel Bezak, Emerson Vella, Dany Djoufack, Kurt Magro, Dexter Xuereb, Jaroslav Repa (79′ Adrian Caruana), Edin Murga (46′ Luca Martinelli), Lucky Victor Oseghale, Kemmu Degran Jackson (87′ Antoine Borg), Kevaun St. Michael Atkinson.
Subs not used: Manuel Bartolo, Zachary Brincat, Neil Frendo, Kyle Frendo.
Coach: Ivan Zammit

FLORIANA Matthew Grech, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani, Ignacio Varela, Jurgen Pisani, Gustavo Amadio (53′ Ryan Camenzuli), Alex Cini, Amadou Samb, Nicolas Chiesa (77′ Clyde Borg).
Subs not used: Justin Haber, Andre Scicluna, Mattia Zarb, Brooke Farrugia, Daniel Agius.
Asst. Coach: Salvatore Caleca

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Chris Azzopardi
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Bezak, Pepe, Samb, Monticelli, Djoufack, Magro
Scorers: 39′ Nicolas Chiesa
BOV Player of the Match: Ignacio Varela
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 823

Substitute Michael Mifsud was the hero for Valletta as he scored the only goal in a narrow win over Tarxien Rainbows at the Hibernians Stadium.

Tarxien have now gone four games without a win, remaining joint-third from bottom.

Valletta had two changes as goalkeeper Dziugas Bartkus replaced the suspended Henry Bonello while Jean Borg was preferred to Uchenna Umeh. On the other hand, Andrea Cassar started in goal for Tarxien while Alex Nilsson replaced Claudio Frances.

Following a goalless first half with hardly any goal scoring opportunities, after the break, both sides pushed more. Andrea Cassar performed good saves on Jhonnattann and Santiago Malano while Alex Nilsson went close for Tarxien.

Substitute Michael Mifsud scored the all-important goal on the 75th minute when he received an assist by Leandro Aguirre and beat Cassar with a fine volley from the right.

VALLETTA Dziugas Bartkus, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Ryan Camilleri, Santiago Malano (78’ Llywelyn Cremona), Jean Borg (72’ Michael Mifsud), Federico Matias Falcone, Claudio Pani, Leandro Aguirre, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao (83’ Ian Azzopardi), Valdo Alhinho Goncalves.
Subs not used: Maverick Buhagiar, Russell Fenech, Jurgen Suda, Nicholas Pulis.
Coach: Paul Zammit

TARXIEN Andrea Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker, Triston Caruana (81’ Julian Galea), Daniel Ponce de Leon Garcia, Alex Nilsson, Emerson Marcelina, Sergio Fernandez Prendes, Daniel Zerafa, Alex da Paixao Alves, Kurt Zammit (54’ Claudio Daniel Frances), Sasha Borg (84’ Dylan Micallef).
Subs not used: Philip Schranz, Matthew Brincat, Luke Zahra, Matthew Tabone.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Christopher Francalanza
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: none
Scorers: 75′ Michael Mifsud
BOV Player of the Match: Claudio Pani
Attendance at the Hibernians Stadium: 943

Renato Vella reporting from the Hibernians Stadium