Floriana outclass Balzan to secure top-six berth

FLORIANA 3

Sasere 8, 46; Thiaguinho 64

BALZAN 0

FLORIANA

C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, J. Grech (82 K. Nwoko), K. Reid, Thiaguinho (82 L. Accarino), D. Vella ( 89 N. Cassar), M. Garcia (70 E. Santos de Souza), F. Sasere (89 G. Rodgers), A. Kouro, Fernandinho, S. Yameogo.

BALZAN

D. Golovic, S. Arab, T. Caruana (59 M. Silva), N. Pulis, I. Westendorf (76 B. Hili), J. Busuttil, D. Oluwatobiloba, H. Stanic (76 G. Farrugia), K. Williams, J. Grech (83 M. Grima), A. Ayo Akpan (59 C Buschman- Dormond).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Franklin Sasere scored at the start of each half as Floriana overpowered Balzan to sink their opponents into further trouble.

The Nigerian forward played a key role in Floriana’s success with a well-taken double, opening the score after just eight minutes and breaching Balzan’s goal again on 46 minutes to end Balzan’s hopes of comeback.

Thiaguinho added further gloss to the scoreline with a third goal midway through the second half as Floriana assured themselves of a top-six finish.

Triston Caruana was detailed to drop back between the Balzan’s centre-backs, forming a five-man defence in a seemingly shut-up shop 5-4-1 configuration.

It was supposed to repel the triple threat posed by Sasere’s power, Thiaguinho’s pace, and Kemar Reid’s prowess.

But that defence was breached in the eighth minute when Serge Yameogo’s low cross found Sasere creeping at the far post to hammer the goal home.

But Balzan were unbowed and tried to hit back.

On 15 minutes, Jan Busuttil  supplied Henri Stanic with a perfectly weighted pass, the Belgian mifielder controlled the ball to push it into the flight of Alexander Udoyen. But the English striker headed the ball into the side-netting.

Floriana took the game to Balzan and began pouring forward and were it not for the hands of Danilo Golovic, they would have certainly extended their advantage.

Yet, soon after the break, Fernandinho floated a long corner into the Balzan box but Golovic misjudged as he came to punch it clear and Sasere stole in to hit the ball into an empty net.

On 64 minutes, Stanic showed lack of confidence as he lost possession cheaply in front of Golovic.

Thiaguinho chipped the ball in the direction of Jake Grech, who crossed for Sasere. The Nigerian striker made a hash of his control, but Thiaguinho raced onto the ball to hit it into the low corner.

In the 76th minute, Sasere then curled narrowly wide from Jake Grech’s tapped free-kick, as Balzan continued to look shaky at the back.

Two minutes from time, Sasere was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork after the Nigerian striker had connected with Fernandinho’s cross.