Rampant Sta Lucia knock Floriana out of FA Trophy

FLORIANA       1

Keqi 81

STA LUCIA       3

Caseres 12

Ante Rosero 45, 62

Floriana

I. Akpan, E. Ruiz, N. Leone, K. Keqi, U. Arias (84 J. Busuttil), B. Paiber, J. Pisani, M. Garcia, A. Cini (46 J. Lumu), F. Cheveresan (69 R. Camenzuli), D. Agius.

Sta Lucia         

M. Montfort, A. Prates, K. Correia, A. Magri Overend, N. Pulis, Alan (72 M. Camilleri), K. Ante Rosero (90 L McKay), V. Filho (73 T. Tabone Desira), A. Caseres (65 J. Zerafa), R. Tachikawa, K. Xuereb (90 A. Vella).

Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards  Leone, Ruiz, Pulis.

Santa Lucia produced an efficient attacking display to knock Floriana out of the FA Trophy

Kevin Ante Rosero was once more the protagonist for the Saints as the Colombian forward grabbed a brace but one must also mention the contribution of Brazilian schemer Alan and forward Augusto Caseres who were a constant threat to the Floriana defence.

For Floriana it was another disappointing performance as teh Greens lacked any kind of cutting edge upfront and that always left them chasing their opponents.

The match was a lively affair in the opening stages with Sta Lucia going close through a Kieran Xuereb shot that finished just over after nine minutes.

Floriana had an even better chance when Ulises Arias played Kristjan Keqi in space but the Albanian was denied by a fine one-handed save from Miguel Montfort.

It was Sta Lucia who drew first blood on 12 minutes when in a quick raid, Kevin Ante Rosero spotted Augusto Caseres unmarked inside the area and the Argentine stabbed home from close in.

Floriana tried to step up their ante but had to wait till the 31st minute to come close when Jurgen Pisani found Daniel Agius who was denied by the alert Montfort.

The Greens thought they equalised two minutes from the break when Arias headed home from close in but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.

Instead it was Sta Lucia who added a second goal when Ante Rosero made space for himself just outside the area and hit a low drive that had the better of Akpan.

On the restart, the Greens roped in Jeroem Lumu for Alex Cini but it was Ante Rosero who almost struck when he sped inside the area but was denied by the onrushing Akpan.

However, the Saints were not to be denied as on 62 minutes Victor Filho embarked on a surging run and squared the ball to Ante Rosero who fired the ball into the roof of the net.

Eight minutes later, Akpan avoided further embarrassment when he pushed over Rei Tachikawa’s volley.

Floriana did pull a goal back when Keqi headed home from a Daniel Agius cross.