Floriana see off Birkirkara to move four points clear at the top

FLORIANA    2

Grech 19 pen.

Marjanovic 34og

BIRKIRKARA 0

FLORIANA

G. Cioletti, L. Lopez, J. Grech, F. Varela, Z. Scerri (58 M. Jah), D. Vella, A. Mabea, O. Spiteri (76 C. Zammit Lonardelli), F. Teixeira, I. Mendonca, M. Veselji (58 R. Areias).

BIRKIRKARA

M. Grech, F. Garrone, M. Morello, S. Marjanovic, K. Reid, K. Fenech, A. Abubakar-Ankrah (46 M. Maydana), L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, N. Cross (46 J. Busuttil), G. Acheampong.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic.

Yellow cards Garrone, Reid, Mabeya, Jah.

Floriana moved four points clear at the top of the YoHealth Malta Premier League when they eased past Birkirkara at the National Stadium.

It was an impressive victory for the Greens against a depleted Birkirkara side as they dominated play right from the outset as they never let the Stripes settle into the match.

Floriana settled the match inside the first 30 minutes when they struck twice and from then on there was no way back for Birkirkara who saw their hopes of a top-two finish in the Top Six suffer a simmering blow as they slipped nine points adrift of second-placed Ħamrun Spartans, who face Marsaxlokk this afternoon.

Birkirkara coach Gianluca Festa was without three key players as goalkeeper Miguel Martinez and midfielders Stephan Makoma and Shaun Dimech, who were serving a one-match ban. Goalkeeper Matthew Grech started in goal, with Nathan Cross and Geoffrey Acheampong coming into the team’s engine room.

On the other hand, Floriana were without the suspended Charles M’Mombwa, who was suspended, and was replaced by Zach Scerri.

Floriana were off to a fast start as they took just 19 minutes to take the lead. Francisco Teixeira was fed inside the area but his run was impeded irregularly by Leandro Lacunza.

Referee Slobodan Petrovic immediately pointed to the spot and reconfirmed his decision after he consulted the Football Video Support system.

Birkirkara’s response was very weak as they looked short of any sort of threat upfront.

It was no surprise that Floriana doubled their lead on 34 minutes when Federico Varela fed Mattia Veselji, who saw his cross-shot deflected by Marjanovic into his own net.

Floriana continued to dominate, and three minutes from the break, Kouya Mabea hit a thunderous drive that was brilliantly turned to a corner by Birkirkara goalkeeper Matthew Grech.

After the break, Festa roped in Jan Busuttil and Marcos Maydana for Abubakar and Nathan Cross in a bid to add more agility and flair to his team’s attacking department.

Birkirkara started the second half with more verve, and on 49 minutes, Manuel Morello was picked in space, and the wingback was blocked by the charging Floriana goalkeeper Gabriele Cioletti.

At the other end, Teixeira hit a swerving drive that flashed past the upright.

Cioletti came to Floriana’s rescue on 60 minutes when Busuttil did well to run to meet a cross, but the Floriana goalkeeper brilliantly pushed away his downward header.

Floriana received a boost on 76 minutes as Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, who has been out for several months with injury, came on as a substitute for Owen Spiteri, to add more options for the Greens’ title challenge.

Birkirkara kept fighting and ten minutes from time, Maydana’s shot from a free-kick finished just over.