Floriana back to winning ways

FLORIANA                           1

Fonseca 9

SENGLEA ATHLETIC      0

FLORIANA: J. Spiteri-6; E. Ruiz-6.5; D. Venancio-6.5; N. Leone-5 (64 M. Dias); K. Keqi-6; B. Paiber-6; J. Pisani-6; A. Cini-6; Flavinho-6 (82 S. Arab); R. Camenzuli-6; T. Fonsenca-6.5.

SENGLEA ATHLETIC: M. Farrugia-6; N. Terzin-6.5; Z. Cassar-6; A. Abela-6; K. Atkinson-5; I. Misan-6.5; J. Tanti-6.5; L. Riascos-5 (79 F. Aboulezz); C. Matombo-5; D. Kukic-5; W. Gomes-5 (89 J. Attard).

Referee Ishmael Barbara.

Yellow cards Abela, Matombo, Riascos.

BOV Player of the Match Tiago Fonseca (Floriana).

Tiago Fonseca’s first goal of the season proved enough to help Floriana defeat Senglea Athletic and bounce back from their Sta Lucia defeat.

It was a much-needed victory for the Greens in what have been a hectic few days for the Malta champions following their weekend defeat and the resignation of president Riccardo Gaucci.

The Greens have now moved closer to the Premier League summit on the nine-point mark while Senglea remain bottom, with just one point to show.

Floriana’s tried to apply an early pressure on Senglea to peg them back into their own half as the Maltese champions sought out for an early lead and take charge of the tie.

However, the Cottonera-based side had no intentions to play second fiddle to the Greens as they were looking to attack their opponents through the vacuum left on the flanks.

Nonetheless, it was Floriana who forged ahead through Fonsenca whose low drive went past Matthew Farrugia.

Moments later, Diego Venancio struck the crossbar from a trademark freekick as Floriana almost doubled their lead.

After this early shock, Senglea tried to stage a reaction through Chris Matombo but his effort went wide.
Floriana replied again but forward Kristian Keqi failed to connect with a Brandon Paiber cross.

Past the half-hour mark, Matombo squandered a glorious chance when he failed to tap in from point-blank range.

Senglea defender Igor Misan tried his luck from outside the box just to see his effort sail over.

The Cottonera side wasted another chance through Kevaughn Atkinson, who after catching his opponents on the break, opted for the worst decision to attempt a solo effort from a tight angle which resulted in a goal kick.

After the break, Senglea came out the better side with Wilkerson threatening Justin Spiteri with a thumping volley.

On the hour mark, Luis Riascos failed to conclude a well-engineered counter-attack a after sending his shot over the bar.

Floriana’s first chance of the second half dropped on the feet of Venancio whose freekick, though, was blocked by Senglea’s custodian.

Twenty minutes from time, the Greens could have easily sealed the win when Marcelo Dias latched onto a Fonseca through ball but could not capitalise as he sent his effort inches wide.

Senglea almost clinched a point at the death but Ryan Camenzuli cleared Atkinson’s shot off the line.