Top-six hopefuls settle for a draw

Floriana 1
M. Briffa 12
Ħamrun Spartans 1
Pereira 21

Marlon Briffa put Floriana in front from their first very assault on the Ħamrun goal only for the Greens' hopes to be dampened almost immediately by Marcelo Pereira.

A share of spoils left these two Championship Pool hopefuls unsatisfied. With both sides desperate for points in a congested bottom-half of the table, the result did not deliver the 'precious' victory that both coaches had craved for.

Lining up to face a Floriana team that had conceded 12 goals in three games, Stephen D'Amato side's was on a roll after victories over Tarxien and Dingli and a hard-earned draw against Hibs before giving Birkirkara a good run for their money in a match the Spartans lost 0-2.

The rather bland performance against Tarxien on Monday night sent the alarm bells ringing at Floriana and coach Zoran Popovic boldly reshuffled his starting line-up.

He completely redesigned the midfield with 16-year-old Sacha Borg and Briffa assigned to patrol the flanks, Joseph Borg in centre-field and Pablo Doffo detailed to provide extra cover to the defence in a diamond 4-4-2.

With Clifton Ciantar unavailable because of suspension, the Floriana coach turned to Owen Bugeja to partner Brian Said in defence.

Briffa may have settled some of the coach's nerves on 12 minutes when the nippy midfielder, on the far side of the box, wriggled free and send in a dipper over the Ħamrun defence that sailed into the net to give his side the best start possible.

Six minutes later, the Spartans defence was still unsettled when Sacha Borg struck a menacing shot directly from the corner but Pereira slid in to scoop clear off the line.

Undeterred by their one-goal deficit, the Spartans pushed forward, utilising the width offered by Clyde Camoin. And Ħamrun were rewarded for their endeavours when Pereira headed home from a free-kick on 21 minutes.

Floriana were almost in trouble on the half-hour mark when Orosco Anonam's defensive header looked destined for the back of the net but Bernard Paris scrambled back to push the ball away and avoid his team-mate's blushes.

In the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Ryan Darmanin saw a stinging shot finish straight into Ivan Casha's hands and with options rapidly diminishing, Popovic introduced the speed of Clyde Borg in the 65th minute.

But it was Wasiu's direct running that was leaving its desired effect as Ħamrun were pinned inside their own half. He became increasingly influential, switching on the flank as Ħamrun's overworked defence almost started to crack.

On 64 minutes, Wasiu opened for Darmanin who rattled the Spartans' crossbar with an acrobatic overhead effort.

As the clock ticked away, half-chances followed at either end but neither side got the winner.

Floriana:B. Paris-6.5, O. Bugeja-6, J. Borg-6, B. Said-6, J. Briffa-5 ('46 J. Brincat-5.5), O. Anonam-5.5, P. Doffo-6.5, S. Borg-6.5 ('89 M. Spiteri), S.A. Wasiu-7, R. Darmanin-7, M. Briffa-6 ('65 C. Borg-5).

Ħamrun Spartans:I. Casha-6, M.A. Bonnici-6, R. Mangion-5 ('44 D.A. Cucciardi-5), R. Fenech-6, M. Micallef-6.5, M. Pereira-6.5, G. Spiteri-6, M. Hrubsa-7, J. Batista Mawete-6 ('82 M. Barbara), J. Holland-5, C. Camoin-6.5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Bugeja; Brincat.

BoV player of the match: Sunday Akanni Wasiu (Floriana).