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Fontanella gives Greens three precious points
Floriana 2
Naxxar L. 0
Floriana: M. Grech, S. Nayar, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, M. Vella, J. Cabral, J. Pisani, A. Cini, D. Grima (D. Grima), M. Fontanella (B. Sciberras), E. Marcelina.
Naxxar L.: L. Polli Gomes, R. Santos Caetano, M. Souza Duarte (D. Falzon), R. Grech, M. Micallef, R. Cassar, M. Casarotto (D. Bonnici), M. Fenech, E. Ndoye, D. Belhadj, Y. Messias.
Referee: E. Grech.
Asst refs: D. Sultana, D. Petrovic.
4th official: T. F. Cann.
Scorers: M. Fontanella 2,
Yellow cards: M. Souza Duarte, E. Ruiz,
Player of the match: M. Fontanella.
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Fontanella, 2. E. Ndoye, 3. M. Vella.
Naxxar Lions suffered a setback to their hopes of avoiding relegation when yesterday they suffered yet another defeat at the hands of Floriana.
Strikes by Mario Fontanella – one in each half - were enough for the Greens to take three precious points to maintain their chase for a third or 4th place which might land them a berth in next season's UEFA Europa League.
Floriana, missing international striker Steve Pisani through suspension and regular goalie Akpan, remain in 5th place on 41 points, three behind third placed Birkirkara, with three matches remaining.
Floriana enjoyed the lion's share of possession, but after taking a very early lead, they failed to add to their tally as Naxxar improved considerably at the back.
The Lions also had their own moments and should have scored at least once, but Casarotto missed a very good opportunity midway through the half and the Lions had to continue playing second fiddle.
The match had barely gone into the 2nd minute and Floriana were already in the lead. A colossal defensive blunder by Naxxar goalie Polli Gomes and a defence colleague, allowed Juninho Cabral to take possession and pass to the unmarked Mario Fontanella, who had absolutely no difficulty in planting the ball into the unguarded net from two metres.
Naxxar's reply arrived on the 9th minute. After a Marcelina blunder in midfield, Messias took control and advanced only to see his fine effort from the edge of the area going just over the post.
In the 17th minute, Floriana had a Cabral freekick going just wide.
Naxxar missed a glaring opportunity to equalise on 20 minutes when Floriana goalie Grech missed a ball on the edge of the area. It ran kindly to Casarotto, but his lob sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Floriana, helped with the wind blowing from behind their backs, maintained the initiative and an Enrico Pepe shot failed to find the target.
Till the end of the first 45 minutes, Floriana remained firmly in control, but never really came close to scoring again.
Naxxar showed more determination as the second half started. In fact, in the 50th minute, Belhadj had a low shot well saved by the diving Grech.
In the 62nd minute, Naxxar goalie Polli Gomes had to rush out of his lines to anticipated substitute Borg Castaldi.
In the 65th minute, a fine move by Floriana between Marcelina, Vella and Borg Castaldi ended with the latter's flick going wide.
Two minutes later, the Greens scored their second goal. From a Maurizio Vella freekick, it was Mario Fontanella who anticipated goalie Polli Gomes to head into the net.
Soon after, at the other end, from a Daren Falzon freekick, Santos Caetano headed over the bar from an ideal scoring position.
On 79 minute, goalie Polli Gomes had to dive sideways to turn to corner a Vella good effort.
In the 86th minute, Jurgen Debono had a shot partially saved by Grech, but Micallef hit badly and Ruiz could clear the ball away.
Four minutes from the end, Floriana almost added a third when a Cabral shot was partially saved by Polli Gomes. The rebound by Fontanella was also blocked on the line by the goalie with the ball eventually cleared to corner.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2Itex2B
via IFTTT
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