Goalkeeper Guilherme Cioletti was the hero for Floriana as the Greens secured a place in the final of the YoHealth Malta Premier Final Four final after defeating Valletta 3-1 on penalties in the first semi-final at the National Stadium on Saturday with the Brazilian goalkeeper performing two saves.
The two teams shared the exchanges throughout the ninety minutes and it was a pity that the penalty shoot-out had to determine the winner after a goalless one hundred and twenty minutes. Valletta missed the first three penalties while Floriana missed the first one but then scored the next three to secure a place in the final.
From the start, it was evident that both sides were focussed on not allowing their opponents to shoot at goal but Valletta had a good opportunity to take the lead on 10 minutes when off a great pass by Yuri Messias from the right, Moise Emmanuel Mbende’s close range header was tipped into a corner by Cioletti.
The two sets of defenders prevailed until the end of regular time with the match going into extra time.
There was nothing to separate the two teams in the first half of extra-time but twelve minutes in the second half of extra-time, Moise Emmanuel Mbende went close for the Citizens wth a header from close range and two minutes in added time, Ahmed Adebayo hit the upright from close range.
The penalty shoot-out therefore had to determine the winner.
Brandon Paiber’s penalty was saved by Cioletti and Owen Spiteri’s effort was neutralised by Juliani Archibald, who had replaced the injured Adilson Maringa after he sustained an injury in the second half of extra-time. Diogo Tavares also had his penalty saved by Cioletti but Zachary Scerri put Floriana ahead. Moise Mbende hit the crossbar and Myles Beerman scored the second penalty. Yannick Yankam scored Valletta’s first but Jake Grech killed any remaining hopes for Valletta as he made it 3-1.