Floriana, Santa Lucia share spoils in entertaining draw

Floriana and Santa Lucia shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Saturday.

Coaches Gianluca Atzori of Floriana and Oliver Spiteri of Santa Lucia named six new players in their line-ups as Floriana had former Santa Lucia duo Andreas Vella and Jamie Magri Overend, Augusto Caseres, who was also on loan at Santa Lucia, Zachary Cassar, Christian Rutjens and Oualid El Hasni making their debut while Santa Lucia had former Floriana captain Jurgen Pisani along with Jan Tanti, Patrick Silva Mota, Vito Plut and Francisco Eliomar Rodrigues and St. Kitts and Nevis international goalkeeper Julani Archibald.

Santa Lucia took the lead on the 21st minute thanks to Francisco Eliomar Rodrigues Farias who pounced on an assist by Vito Plut from the right as he dashed past two defenders beating Andreas Vella with a shot in the top right corner.

The Greens equalised six minutes in the second half when they were awarded a penalty after Andre Prates Rodrigues floored Augusto Caseres inside the area and Kristian Keqi made no mistake from the penalty spot.

One minute later, Santa Lucia restored the lead courtesy of Francisco Eliomar Rodrigues Farias who received a pass by Vito Plut and beat the Floriana goalkeeper with a fine shot from outside the area.

However, on the 77th minute, substitute Daniel Agius levelled matters with a header off a cross from the left by Ryan Camenzuli.

Floriana vs Santa Lucia match details

FLORIANA Andreas Vella, Adam Magri Overend (Aleandro Garzia 67’), Christian Oliva Rutjens, Oualid El Hasni, Zachary Cassar, Augusto Caseres (Daniel Agius 67’), Kristian Keqi, Ulises Arias (Mattias Formosa 92’), Matias Nicolas Garcia, Brandon Diego Paiber (Bradley Sciberras 92’), Ryan Camenzuli.
Coach: Gianluca Atzori

SANTA LUCIA Julani Kyle Archibald, Andre Prates Rodrigues (Jamie Carbone 92’), Jurgen Pisani, Nicholas Pulis, Patrick Silva Mota, Vito Plut, Alan da Silva Souza (Emerson Camilleri 65’), Francisco Eliomar Rodrigues Farias, Jan Tanti (Liam Mckay 90’), Victor Luiz Filho, Kieran Xuereb. 
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Christopher Francalanza
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia
Yellow Cards: N. Pulis, A. Prates, J. Archibald (SL); K. Keqi, A. Garzia (F)
BOV Player of the Match: Francisco Eliomar Rodrigues Farias