Two defeats but two contrasting performances were produced by Floriana and Sliema Wanderers in yesterday’s second qualifying round in the Conference League.
The Greens and the Blues, who are representing Malta together with Ħamrun Spartans in this competition, were playing in the first legs against Vitoria and FC Noah respectively.
Darren Abdilla’s Floriana were expected to find the going tough against Vitoria who feature in Portugal’s top-flight.
However, the Greens put on a brave display in a match they could have even won if they had managed to make the most of their few, but dangerous opportunities.
On the other hand, Sliema had a disastrous return to European football after conceding seven in Armenia, against an FC Noah side that was established just in 2017 and are making their appearance in European football.
The Blues last conceded seven in a single game in Europe was in the 1996-97 UEFA Cup against Denmark’s Odense.
At the Centenary Stadium, Floriana almost stunned Vitoria when they had two potential goal scoring opportunities in the early stages of the game.
Thiaguinho hit a shot on target from the edge of the area before Jake Grech sprinted inside the area just to see his effort glance past Vitoria’s goal.
After the break, Floriana had another effort through Reid but the Malta international could not find the net.
Vitoria’s first noteworthy chance came on the 50th minute when Nelson Oliveira forced Christoffer Mafoumbi into action with a close-range header.
Floriana replied through an Owen Spiteri’s volley as the Greens remained a threat to the Portuguese side.
Nonetheless, Vitoria started to inch their way up the field especially after making a handful of substitutions and they managed to break the deadlock through Jota Silva who beat Mafoumbi from inside the area.
In Armenia, a disappointing Sliema side was no match to FC Noah as the Armenian side ran rampant from start to finish, breaking little sweat to dismantle the Maltese representatives.
The hosts made their intentions clear from the start, pressing their foot on the gas pedal in search of an early lead.
They made their pressure count through French forward Virgile Pinson whose curling effort put FC Noah ahead.
The Armenian team doubled their lead through Goncalo Gregorio who pounced on a Sliema mistake at the back to beat goalkeeper Josip Bender.
Moments later, Gregorio extended FC Noah’s lead with a close-range header as the hosts had already made sure of the win in the opening 45 minutes.
After the break, Magri Overend had an attempt off target which looked like it could spark the Maltese side into life.
However, FC Noah dashed Sliema’s slim hopes of a comeback with a fourth goal through Gregorio.
FC Noah scored twice in a span of three minutes through Erald Cinari before Helder Ferreira wrapped up the scoreline with a seventh goal.
FC NOAH 7
Pinson 19
Gregorio 28, 31, 57
Cinari 71, 74
SLIEMA WANDERERS 0
FC NOAH
O. Chancharevich; A. Miljkovic (63 H. Ferreira), P. Santos; G. Silva, G. Thorarinsson, A. Avanesyan (63 H. Hambartsumyan), M. Gambos (74 I. Omar), G. Mayelvan, E. Cinari, Gregorio (79 M. Aias), V. Pinson (63 G. Sangare).
SLIEMA WANDERERS
J. Bender; G. Alcino, M. Henrique, J. Borg, A. Magri Overend (65 S. Gomes), J. Minala, S. Zibo, M. Beerman (65 C. Attard), G. Acheampong, S. Pisani (77 S. Ohawuchi), V. Plut.
Referee Roman Jitari (North Macedonia FA).
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FLORIANA 0
VITORIA 1
Jota Silva 78
FLORIANA
C. Mafoumbi; A. Garzia (85 G. Yameogo), O. El Hasni, O. Spiteri, A. Kouro, Fernandinho, D. Vella (80 M. Veselji), J. Grech (88 A. Obonogwu), M. Garcia, Thiaguinho (80 C. Zammit Lonardelli), K. Reid.
VITORIA
B. Varela; Alberto, J. Fernandes, T. Borekovic, J. Mendes, T. Silva, T. Handel, N. Santos (63 Samu), J. Silva, N. Oliveira (63 J. Ramirez), R. Mangas (63 K. Cesar).
Referee Ben Mcmaster (Northern Ireland FA).
Yellow cards Oliveira, Fernandinho, Jota Silva, Zammit Lonardelli.
