Second-half goals lift leaders Floriana over Sliema Wanderers in Old Firm derby

SLIEMA WANDERERS             0

FLORIANA                                   2

Reid 71

Spiteri 76

SLIEMA WANDERERS

R. Al Tumi; J. Borg, J. Minala, V. Plut (L. Micallef 70), M. Beerman (J, Engerer 77), G. Alcino, D. Kouao, J. Adukor (88 A. Friggieri), M. Henrique, G. Acheampong, S. Gomes (K. Abubakar 70).

FLORIANA

G. Kitanov; A. Magri Overend (K. Nwoko 70), O. El Hasni, J. Arias, K. Reid (87 A. Grazia), M. Sousa (M. Veselji 70), D.Vella, O. Spiteri, M. Garcia, M. Valadzko, A. Kouro (90 C. Zammit Lonardelli).

Referee Ishmael Barbara.

Yellow cards Acheapomg, El Hasni, Arias.

Missed penalty Jose Arias (Floriana) 32.

Floriana claimed the Old Firm derby with two second-half goals from Kemar Reid and Owen Spiteri to keep their top position at the top of the Premier League.

The Greens, still unbeaten after eight matches, are now on 20 points after conquering their sixth win.

Reid, who made his international debut for Malta in the recent Euro qualifier against England, scored his seventh goal of the season to propel the Greens to another win.

Youngster Owen Spiteri, who forms part of the Malta U-21 selection, wrapped up the victory with a second goal on his first club appearance this season.

For Sliema, this was their third defeat of the campaign as they remain on 13 points after eight matches.

Coach Paul Zammit deployed a new face in his starting formation with Joachim Adukor, the Liberia international who joined the club earlier this week.

In the opening stages, Geoffrey Acheampong tried his luck from long-range but the Sliema Wanderers player could not beat Georgi Kitanov.

Floriana replied through fullback Adam Magri Overend, only to see his effort from inside the penalty area go past Rashed Al-Tumi’s goal.

The Blues came close to forge ahead but forward Vito Plut failed to push the ball into the net from the small area to the despair of the Sliema camp after some fine work from Acheampong.

This missed opportunity almost came back to haunt them when Floriana were awarded a penalty a minute later.

Matheus Sousa was tripped inside the area by Denis Kouoa but Jose Arias saw his effort from the spot hit the woodwork before Al-Tumi denied Sousa’s rebound.

Before the break, Sliema had a curling effort go inches wide through Acheampong as the first half ended in a goalless stalemate.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Sliema had a freekick, taken by Samuel Gomes sail over the bar.

The former Gudja United player threatened again when he fired a first-timer from outside the area only to see Kitanov pushing the ball away.

However, it was Floriana who broke the deadlock through Reid nineteen minutes from time.

The Malta international combined well with Matias Garcia before slotting past Al Tumi to the delight of the Floriana clan.

Five minutes later, the Greens sealed the three points when Owen Spiteri connected with a well-taken corner kick by Arias to beat Al-Tumi.