VITORIA 4
Kaio 8; Fernandes 11; Mangas 36, 42
FLORIANA 0
VITORIA B.Varela, T. Handel (74 M. Silva), B. Gaspar, T. Silva, J. Mendes , R. Mangas, Kaio (74 Bica Jr) T. Borevkovic, J. Fernandes, N. Santos (63 Samu), J. Ramirez (63 N. Oliveira).
FLORIANA C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, J. Grech (80 A. Obonogwu), K. Reid (71 K. Nwoko), Thiaguinho (65 M. Veselji), D. Vella, O. Spiteri (46 C. Zammit Lonardelli) M.Garcia, A. Kouros, Fernandinho (46 G. Yameogo), A. Garzia
Referee: Ion Orlic (Macedonia FA)
Vitoria Guimaraes powered their way into the third qualifying round of the Europea Conference league as they eased past Floriana 4-0 in Thursday night’s second leg in Portugal.
The Greens had a tough task on their hands to try and overturn the tie in their favour after last week’s 1-0 defeat at the Centenary Stadium. To make matters worse, the Greens found themselves two goals down after just 11 minutes.
That left Darren Abdilla’s troops with a mountain to climb as Vitoria Guimaraes powered to a comfortable victory and set up a third qualifying round clash against FC Zurich.
Abdilla kept faith to the formation that did so well against the Portuguese side in Malta with Dunstan Vella behind Kemar Reid in a 5-4-1 formation.
Vitoria took little time to stamp their authority on the match and went ahead inside the first eight minutes.
Ricardo Mangas received the ball on the edge of the area from Tiago Silva before putting the ball into the path of Kairo who flashed in with a flying header to beat Christopher Mafoumbi.
More woes followed for Floriana as third minutes later, Kaio turned provider to serve Jorge Fernandes who made it 2-0.
Two goals down, Floriana faced a tall order but they still showed good defensive organisation.
But any hopes Floriana might have had of getting back in contention were ended on 36 minutes when Kaio, a thorn in the side of Floriana’s defence released Mangas who beat Mafoumbi with a low drive.
Three minutes from the break, Vitoria made 4-0 when Mangas met Kaio’s cross with an overhead kick.
At half-time, Abdilla made a double substitution, bringing on Carlo Zammit Lonardelli and Guy Yameogo in lieu of Owen Spiteri and Fernandinho respectively. And on the restart, the Greens looked to at least limit the damage, but it was Vitoria who continued to dominate proceedings.
The Portuguese subjected the Greens rearguard to some intense pressure early in the second half, Bruno Gaspar sending a piledriver crashing against the bar past the hour mark.
On 78 minutes, Floriana had a first glimpse at Bruno Varela’s goal but Oulid El Hasni was denied by Jorge Fernandes as he was about to connect to Matias Garcia’s freekick.
One minute from time, Varela untroubled for the whole match, rushed out of his lines to intercept Zammit Lonardelli’s freekick.
At death, substitute Samu could have added more gloss to Vitoria’s victory but hit the foot of the post with a low shot.
