Floriana 4
Micallef 27; Caruana 40; Sodje 68; Grabowski 71;
Ħamrun Spartans 2
Calabretta 24; Pisani 42 og;
Maltese football needs more games like this. They may not be the most glamorous teams in the Premier League but Floriana and Ħamrun Spartans yesterday conjured up a brilliant advert for the local game after being involved in a gripping encounter that produced six goals.
The exchanges were keenly-contested but the pace of Floriana’s foreign forwards, namely newcomer Onome Sodje and the ever impressive Andre Grabowski, swung the balance in favour of the Greens who have narrowed the gap on second-placed Hibs to four points.
Floriana’s policy to give auditions to a host of foreign hopefuls in competitive matches has met with a few raised eyebrows but their approach appears to be paying the right dividends.
Grabowski, signed in late October, is fast making a name for himself as a skilful winger while Sodje, who was on target yesterday, and fellow debutant Eric Akoto also gave a good account of themselves.
While the Greens took the plaudits, a thought should be spared to the Spartans who gave as much as they got but their susceptibility to quick counter-attacks ultimately proved to be their undoing.
In addition to the availability of newcomers Akoto and Sodje, a further boost to Michael Woods’s options was provided by the return from injury of playmaker Christian Caruana. Ivan Woods was also named in Floriana’s starting XI after completing his rehabilitation from injury.
The two notable absentees for the Greens were midfielder Christian Cassar, suspended, and long-term injury casualty Tyrone Farrugia.
Akoto’s arrival enabled Woods to switch Pablo Doffo to his favoured midfield position as the Ghana-born defender partnered Owen Bugeja in defence. The much-travelled Sodje played behind Woods in Floriana’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
Massimo Grima returned from suspension but Spartans coach Jesmond Zammit still had to cope without Gaetan Spiteri, Lee James Agius and goalkeeper Omar Borg.
Ħamrun’s 4-4-1-1 approach had forward Dene Shields as its spearhead with Anderson Ribeiro roaming behind.
In the opening stages, Akoto did well to cut out dangerous runs by Steve Bonnici and Ribeiro.
The early proceedings were finely-poised with Floriana relying mostly on swift incursions by Grabowski to gain ground. Ħamrun were more methodical in their build-up play and, after 11 minutes, Rupert Mangion found Shields just inside the area but the Scotsman’s effort was too central to unsettle Manuel Bartolo.
Danger loomed for the Spartans when Doffo set Sodje off on a run but Nikica Gacesa threw his body in the way of the Nigerian striker. Floriana fans were livid when referee Marco Borg waved play on.
In the ensuing action, the Spartans were quick to dink the ball into Floriana’s box and Bugeja’s blocking act on the advancing Ribeiro drew shouts of ‘penalty’ but the match officials saw nothing wrong.
A sweeping counter-attack yielded a breakthrough for the Spartans on 24 minutes.
Retrieving possession in midfield, Ribeiro exchanged passes with Shields as the two surged forward.
With the Floriana defenders on the backfoot, Shields surveyed his options and chose the right one as he moved the ball out to Gianluca Calabretta on the left. Calabretta drifted into the box, swept past Bugeja and chipped the ball into the far corner of the net.
The Ħamrun fans were overjoyed but their delight didn’t last long as Floriana took only two minutes to make it 1-1.
Doffo’s set-piece cross from the left soared towards the far post where Clyde Borg flicked the ball towards the other post and Mano Micallef slid in to tap home.
Floriana would have gained the lead but for a good save by young keeper Andrea Cassar from Sodje’s screamer. Pouncing on the loose ball, Caruana picked out Grabowski but the latter skewed his shot under pressure from Bonnici.
An intense, open game continued to ebb and flow. Floriana should have nosed ahead when Micallef powered his way down the left and lifted his cross over Cassar but the lunging Grabowski couldn’t keep his shot down.
Ħamrun sighed with relief but their reprieve was temporary as the Greens went 2-1 up five minutes from half-time. Doffo was again the provider as his inviting ball from a central free-kick dipped into the box and Caruana swivelled before hitting a delightful half-volley that sailed past the diving Cassar.
The tit-for-tat nature continued as, barely two minutes later, Ħamrun equalised in somewhat fortuitous fashion as Duncan Pisani’s attempt to close down Polli sent the ball spinning into the air and past the startled Bartolo.
Hopes that the two teams would carry on where they left off in the first half increased when, three minutes after the restart, Mangion floated the ball to Calabretta inside the area but the latter’s effort was pawed away by Bartolo.
At the other end, Sodje had too much pace for Grima as the Nigerian sped through on the right before passing to Woods whose grounder was deflected away for a corner.
Woods suffered a head wound from the ensuing flagkick but the striker was able to rejoin the fray after receiving medical treatment.
Ħamrun quickly issued a reminder of their ability to attack as Mangion defied his veteran age with a strong run through the middle but his shot was diverted away for a corner.
Caruana glanced over from Doffo’s right-wing cross as the two sides kept pushing forward at every opportunity.
The optimism of the Floriana faithful increased at the sight of Sodje galloping towards goal unimpeded in a counter-attack. He took the ball past Cassar who had sped off his line but the Nigerian’s grounder was weak and Bonnici cleared.
However, midway into the second half, Sodje redeemed himself as he was on hand to head Grabowski’s teasing cross past Cassar.
The score should have become 3-3 as Ribeiro put Shields through but the latter prodded wide with only Bartolo to beat.
Ħamrun paid dearly for this miss as Floriana increased their lead 19 minutes from time. Grabowski added to his blossoming reputation as he darted past Matthew Cauci from the right and volleyed home.
The Spartans looked shell-shocked but they did try to hit back, Grima having a central attempt blocked by Bartolo after receiving from Polli.
When Gacesa’s participation was cut short by injury, Spartans coach Zammit brought on up-and-coming forward Ryan Spiteri and switched to 4-3-3.
Late on, Floriana substitute John Mintoff angled a cross from the right and the ball cannoned off the top of the crossbar.
Floriana
M. Bartolo-6.5, E. Akoto-6.5, O. Bugeja-5.5, P. Doffo-7.5, M. Micallef-6, C. Caruana-6.5 (72 T. Paris), I. Woods-6.5 (87 J. Mintoff), D. Pisani-4 (46 J. Borg-5.5), A. Grabowski-8, C. Borg-6, O. Sodje-7.
Ħamrun Spartans
A. Cassar-5, S. Bonnici-6, M. Gauci-5.5, N. Gacesa-5 (85 R. Spiteri), M. Grima-6, R. Mangion-7 (90 G. Azzopardi), C. Polli-6, K. Sammut-5.5, G. Calabretta-6 (77 D. Camilleri), A. Ribeiro-6, D. Shields-6.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Caruana; Polli; Doffo.
BOV player of the match: Andre Gra-bowski (Floriana).