Luis Furtado (right) scored both goals for Floriana against Marsaxlokk. Photo: Dominic Borg
MARSAXLOKK 0-2 FLORIANA Luis Furtado 49, 87.
MARSAXLOKK M. Drobnjak; Weder (78 D. Bonnici), K. Micallef (78 J. Walker), J. Ghio (63 A. Obongwu), Yuri, L. Aguirre, N. Raden, R. Scicluna, S. Akinbule, J. Junior.
FLORIANA G. Kitanov; O. El Hasni, J. Grech (90 L. De Grazia), J. Arias (77 K. Reid), M. Sousa (77 D. Vella), O. Spiteri, M. Garcia, M. Valadzko (82 C. Zammit Lonardelli), A. Kouro, A. Garzia, L. Furtado (90 K. Nwoko).
A Luis Furtado brace helped Floriana beat Marsaxlokk to advance to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy, on Saturday afternoon.
The Brazilian scored his first couple of goals in this competition, on his second appearance, after the break as Mauro Camoranesi’s Floriana remained in contention for a potential domestic double.
The first half saw Floriana, who had the strong wind blowing behind their backs, enjoying the bulk of possession with Marsaxlokk happy to soak up possession and try and hit their opponents with swift counterattacks.
After a drab opening 15 minutes, Floriana had a good opportunity to take the lead when Matheus found himself in space inside the Marsaxlokk penalty area but the Brazilian striker fired over.
The Greens continued to pile the pressure on the southerners’ defence but failed could not find a way past Marko Drobnjak.
However, after the break, Floriana soon seized the initiative and managed to take the lead on 49 minutes when Furtado raced clear on the right and hit a low shot that rolled past the diving Drobnjak.
Marsaxlokk tried to fight back but their hopes were ended on 87 minutes when Furtado was floored inside the area by Leandro Aguirre with the referee pointing to the spot.
Furtado stepped up and saw his effort partially blocked by Drobnjak but from the rebound, the Cape Verde forward stabbed home to seal his team’s spot into the semis.
