Ryan Camenzuli denies Valletta derby spoils
Floriana and Valletta played a 1-1 draw in this highly charged derby on an occasion when everything seemed amplified. A ground accustomed to housing its share of empty seats for league fixtures, welcomed the season’s highest attendance. By the time the game was over the decibal count had hightened appreciably and the evening felt electrified by a collective adrenaline surge.
It was no absorbing contest, although simmering with occasional tensions and passing reminders about the sporting enmity between the two sides, but the teams roused themselves for a grandstand finish.
Valletta had most of the game, certainly in terms of shots on goal and the territorial advantage, but Floriana were stubborn opponents who had their moments.
The goals took long in coming. Valletta thought they had won the game when they broke the deadlock through substitute Michael Mifsud with eight minutes of normal time remaining but Ryan Camenzuli equalised for the Greens four minutes later to share the derby spoils.
With Balzan losing against Hibernians earlier in the afternoon, a muted anticipation pervaded the Valletta support. A win would have taken them into second place, three points adrift of the leaders, whom they play in midweek. As it stands, Valletta now sit in second place with Balzan, five points behind the Paolites with six matches to go.
Injuries and suspensions deprived Floriana of Scicluna, Jurgen Pisani, Vella and Samb. Enzo Ruiz returned in defence and Ignacio Varela in attack.
Because of the foreigners’ quota, Valletta coach Paul Zammit again opted to leave Massimiliano Velasco out of the squad, with Luke Montebello starting in attack. Defender Ryan Camilleri did not recover in time from a shoulder injury he suffered in the Malta international against Slovakia and Jean Borg played instead.
The champions had the edge in a barren first half, threatening but without creating too much of clearcut note. Towards the half hour, Aguirre’s cross shot from the left forced the Floriana keeper Haber to throw himself backwards and hold the ball out into a corner.
Valletta’s best chance came on 35 central midfield partnership. Rodolfo Soares, Andrei Agius and Dejan Boljevic made up the Paolites’ three-man defence, with Marcelo Dias and Clayton Failla their wing backs on the right and left respectively.
Balzan were the ones to carry the first threat after six minutes. Souza broke from midfield and played the ball wide to Kaljevic who promptly shot from some distance, only missing the target by a few inches.
Hibernians’ response came four minutes later. A Ribeiro inswinging minutes. Aguirre broke from midfield, played the ball wide to Borg who crossed low for the advancing Malano whose effort was held out by Haber’s reflex save. And an Alihno dipping shot from a distance landed on the roof of the net.
Floriana showed some improvement in the second half and Valletta were finding the going tough in central midfield, but Alihno and Malano kept showing industry in that sector. Uchenna looked subdued by his usual standards.
Past the hour, Nayar’s header was saved by Bartkus, in the first real test for the Valletta custodian.
On 68 minutes, Michael Mifsud was introduced for Romao and four minutes later Alihno advanced through the middle. His rising shot went over.
Uchenna stood in a promising position when connecting to Malano’s cross but he missed the target.
Valletta had needed a lift. They were the dominant team but it was still goalless and they were struggling to prise apart Floriana and create the moment for the knock-out blow.
But as the Valletta fans howled in frustration to their side’s profligacy, that came eight minutes from the end.
Michael Mifsud ran inside the Floriana area from the right, avoided an opponent as he cut towards the middle to beat Haber with a low drive.
Valletta’s joy lasted only four minutes though as, rather abruptly, they lost their defensive confidence. Jean Borg was caught off balance when trying to stop the ball reaching free kick from the left was fisted out by the Balzan keeper Janjusevic. Then, Failla ran in from the blind side to connect to Dias’ run and cross from the right but Grima was quick to block.
The Balzan right back was at pains to deal with Hibernians’ insidious attacking play on the flank and, when caught between Ribeiro and Failla on a Lima cross from the right, the ball bounced invitingly for Clayton Failla to hit in past the helpless keeper Janjusevic and put the leaders in front after 35 minutes. Fontanella and the ball fell invitingly to Ryan Camenzuli who scored from close range.
Hell broke loose as Camenzuli pulled off his shirt in jubilation and was booked but keeper Haber was also shown a second yellow card and duly dismissed in the process. Strong protests from the Floriana bench followed and seven minutes of added time were assigned by the referee after play was restored, but that failed to change the end result. Hibernians Balzan Valletta Birkirkara Floriana Sliema Gzira Tarxien Hamrun St. Andrews Mosta Pembroke
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