Floriana exit with a fight
Floriana produced a second half hearty performance to draw 3-3 against superior opponents Red Star in the return leg of the Europa League First Qualifying Round at Hibernians Stadium yesterday, after trailing 3-1 with a quarter of an hour remaining.
That of course was not enough to see them progress to the next round but they should take some positives from their improved showing in the second half.
With their pedestrian rhythm, Floriana had no answer to the movement and invention of their classy opponents from Serbia, intent on driving home their superiority, in the opening half.
Despite all their territorial superiority, and after taking an early lead and creating several other chances, Red Star conceded a penalty in the half’s added time, allowing Floriana to level matters by halftime.
Red Star looked heading for another win with a comfortable 3-1 advantage in the second half but succumbed to Floriana’s late flurry and finally had to settle for a draw on the night.
Floriana struggled to show cohesion in the first half but showed more self belief in the second. Their response to falling two goals behind was swift and they managed to save the match with two late goals.
Both side ended up playing with ten men.
Red Star led 3-0 from the first leg in Belgrade and coach Vladan Milojevic made only one change in his starting line-up yesterday, dropping Mitchell Donald and replacing him with Uros Racic in midfield.
Floriana, forced to play without the suspended centre back Enzo Ruiz, had to reshuffle the side, with James Baldacchino playing at the back alongside Enrico Pepe. Steve Pisani and Arthur Henrique were the wide backs as coach Giovanni Tedesco gave starts to Juninho Cabral and Clyde Borg in midfield, dropping Chiesa. Surprisingly Matthew Grech played in goal and Justin Haber sat on the bench.
Things looked complicated for the Greens from the very start. Red Star’s early pressure had already earned them a corner after seven minutes after Andjelkovic advanced dangerously down the left to cross for Milic who had his shot blocked. Andjelkovic’s direct free kick from the edge of the Floriana area went over before the visitors broke the deadlock short of the quarter hour. From a long throw-in from the left, Richmond Boakye, who had scored two goals in the first leg, beat keeper Grech with a looping header.
Red Star kept up the rhythm, playing with speed and power and pinned Floriana inside the own half for long stretches.
A Floriana rare scoring opportunity, midway through the half, came when a Stojkovic’s clearance inside the Red Star area rebounded in the path of Cabral, who shot straight on keeper Manojlovic.
The Greens suffered another blow on 36 minutes. Pepe limped off, to be replaced by the new signing from Ghana, Noel Nyason. Nayar dropped in the centre of defence.
Two minutes later, Milic went past Pisani down the left and crossed for Srnic whose header almost beat Grech but the Floriana keeper somehow managed to hold out the ball.
In the half’s added time, Floriana were handed a lifeline though. Le Tallec felled Cabral inside the Red Satr area and from the resultant penalty, Steve Pisani drew level.
Predictably Floriana began playing with more confidence and authority after the interval. When the Red Star keeper hesitated to go off his line and reach for the ball, Varela could not capitalise.
Floriana also had a Fontanella goal ruled out for offside past the hour.
Red Star were not without their usual threat though. From a Srnic low cross, Andjelkovic lobbed his effort slightly over. On 67 minutes, Srnic headed Ricardinho’s cross wide.
Red Star regained the lead on 70 minutes. Srnic rose to head Andjelkovic’s cross from the left and, when challenged by a Floriana defender, the ball dropped for Boakye who drilled in a diagonal shot.
Red Star increased their lead six minutes later and Boakye turned provider. Standing inside the Floriana area, he played a through ball to substitute Nenad Milijas to drive low past the helpless keeper Grech.
But Floriana refused to buckle and within less than ten frantic minutes, they made a remarkable comeback to draw level.
On 78 minutes, Maurizio Vella beat keeper Manojlovic with a hard shot from the left.
And after Baldacchino proved providential, blocking Andjelkovic’s goal bound effort, and Red Star had Gobeljic sent off for a reckless tackle on Vella on 80 minutes, Floriana scored their equaliser five minutes from time. A Vella cross was headed in by Ignacio Varela who was also sent off after making some provocative gestures during his celebration.