Floriana deepen Swallows' gloom - January 18, 2010

Dingli Swallows 0
Floriana 2
Caruana 18; Darmanin 61

Floriana pushed Dingli a step nearer first division football next season as Christian Caruana and Ryan Darmanin condemned the Swallows to their 10th straight league upset and a miserable 13th defeat overall.

It leaves them rooted to the foot of the standings as Floriana earned themselves some valuable breathing space with their first win in five matches.

Floriana looked hampered at the outset by the absence of Sunday Akanni-Wasiu, Marlon Briffa, Julian Briffa, Sunday Eboh and Christian Cassar. However, Zoran Popovic was able to boost his beleaguered squad by giving a debut to newcomer Victor Zlydarev who should prove to be a good signing.

Zlydarev's towering presence defined the way the team played yesterday with the coach's instructions often being "dink it to Zlydarev and let him do the rest."

The last time these two teams met in October, the Dingli players left the pitch with a 2-1 win, the only points picked up so far this season. But, at least yesterday, Jesmond Zammit could seek consolation in the way the Swallows passed the ball around and battled for possession.

Dingli played a full part in the match but need to tighten up at the back and show more sharpness in front of goal if they are to make an impression in the Relegation Pool. With better finishing, Dingli would have surely left Corradino with a point in their bags.

They started with plenty of energy and Andre Rocha da Silva came close to scoring but his calibrated free-kick hit the bar after just eight minutes.

Yet, it was Floriana who took command, twice coming close to an opener.

Popovic's men needed only 10 minutes to open up Dingli's brittle defence, Caruana forcing a save from Jeffrey Farrugia after an interchange of passes had undone the backline.

Seven minutes later, Caruana whipped a teasing cross that found no takers but the nippy striker eventually broke the deadlock on 18 minutes. Pablo Doffo's corner was expertly headed into the danger zone by Zlydarev and Caruana had the simple task of back-heading in from a few metres out.

Goalkeeper Bernard Paris came off his line to block Joseph Okonkwo's effort as the striker ran in on goal soon after Caruana's goal.

On the half hour mark, Farrugia made an excellent save to thwart Darmanin after he had been played in by Orosco Anonam.

Just before the break, Da Silva was a few inches away from the equaliser, whacking his shot just wide right of goal from the edge of the area.

Dingli were handed an unexpected lifeline on 56 minutes when Floriana were reduced to ten men following Brian Said's red card for an unorthodox challenge on Okonkwo.

Yet, Dingli failed to take advantage of their numerical supremacy.

Five minutes after Said's dismissal, Darmanin stunned the Swallows when he picked a pass from Caruana on the edge of the penalty area and smashed a screamer beyond the despairing Farrugia and into the top corner of the net.

Da Silva sent a weak effort straight at Paris at the other end as Dingli mounted a desperate salvage job but to no avail.

Playing today

National Stadium: 19.30 Birkirkara vs Hibernians.

Dingli Swallows
J. Farrugia-5, R. Briffa-4.5, S. Tellus-5, R. Spiteri-6 ('78 C. Azzopardi), K. Formosa-6, C. Muscat-6, D. Cachia-5 ('57 E. Farrugia-5), K. Borg-5, A. Rocha da Silva-7.5, J. Okonkwo-7, D. Zarb-6 ('67 H. Doda-5).

Floriana
B. Paris-6.5, C. Ciantar-6, B. Said, O. Anonam-6, R. Darmanin-7, V. Zlydarev-7 ('67 M. Spiteri-5), P. Doffo-6.5, C. Caruana-7.5 ('90 J. Brincat), S. Borg-6 ('58 C. Borg-5), J. Borg-6, O. Bugeja-6.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Said; Rocha da Silva; K. Borg; B.Paris.

Red card: Said (F) 56.

BoV player of the match: Ryan Darmanin (Floriana).