Sirens made to pay the penalty as Floriana clinch win

FLORIANA 1

Reid 54 pen.

SIRENS        0

FLORIANA

G. Kitanov-6, A. Magri Overand-5.5, O. El Hasni-6, M. Veselji-6 (73 K. Nwoko), K. Reid-6 (73 A. Ciolacu), U. Arias-6, C. Zammit Lonardelli-5.5 (68 O. Spiteri), L. De Grazia-7, L. Trillo-5, E. Callegari-6, J. Busuttil-7 (80 N. Garcia).

SIRENS

M. Grech-6, G. Camilleri-5, K. Sano-6.5, J. Walker-6, A. Vaikainah-5, A. Cini-6, V. Bento-5, I. Kolev-4, G. Ventura-4, S. Sessegnon-5, E. Arab-6 (76 A. Borg).

Referee: Ishmael Barbara.

BOV Player of the Match: Mattia Veselji (Floriana).

Kemar Reid’s penalty ensured Floriana were able to extend their winning streak to two matches with a comfortable victory over Sirens.

In truth, the match was average fare with excitement limited.

The Greens were the vastly superior team and once Reid had scored from the spot after 54 minutes, their lead rarely seemed in danger.

Sirens – who drew 2-2 with Floriana in the first round – were well organised and proved hard to break down but they lacked any sort of ambition until the final period of the game.

Floriana enjoyed the majority of the possession but apart from a Mattia Veselj’s shot after a trademark run at goal and a header by Josè Arias – posed little real threat to Matthew Grech, the Sirens goalkeeper.

The Maltese striker was put through on goal by Jan Busuttil’s deft ball behind the Sirens defence but he shot over.

Josè Arias could have opened the score earlier but his header was saved by Grech.

That was until Kemar Reid’s penalty. On 53 minutes, Grech spilled Reid’s effort and Veselji was quickest to the rebound, but as he was about to shoot, the striker was hit by Jacob Walker. Referee Ishmael Barbara awarded a penalty.

Spiteri guessed right but could not keep the ball from rolling the behind the ball.  

Having taken the lead, Floriana briefly threatened to overrun Sirens. Busuttil almost beat Grech with a vicious angled drive as Veselji shot narrowly wide on 55 minutes.

As the game wore on – and following Floriana’s failure to convert their dominance into goals – Sirens did grow in confidence.

Kei Sano had a rare shot at goal for Sirens after 70 minutes, but as he was forced wide the ball finished high over Georgi Kitanov’s bar. This was as close as Winston Muscat’s side came as Floriana deservedly held on for their second consecutive win.

Photo: Christine Borg.