Floriana pile more misery on troubled Pembroke

Floriana were a reshuffled side yesterday. With Ryan Camenzuli and Enrico Pepe injured, Steve Pisani not fully fit, and defender Alex Cini suspended, coach Giovanni Tedesco gave starts to Andre Scicluna and Antonio Monticelli, as well as to Clyde Borg while Nicolas Chiesa returned in midfield, with Nayar playing at the back. Matthew Grech retained his place in goal following his side’s FA Trophy match against Hamrun Spartans the previous week.

Pembroke went into this match in rude health, They have endured troubled times on and off the pitch these past few days. Still reeling from their surprise elimination from the FA Trophy by Gozitan side SK Victoria Wanderers, they were also docked three points, after their league win against Mosta was ruled null by the MFA Disciplinary Board, for allegations of match fixing involvement.

Two notable absentees for Pembroke yesterday were the suspended duo Andrea Scozzese and Zoran Levnaic.

There was a high-tempo start to the match but little in the way of openings.

Kooh Sohna had beaten keeper Grech after five minutes but the goal was disallowed as the Pembroke forward was judged to have fouled Floriana’s defender Ruiz in the process.

Floriana forged ahead five minutes later when Ignacio Varela connected well to Chiesa’s pass and hit a delightful flick past keeper Calleja Cremona at the far post.

But, despite their territorial dominance, Floriana failed to push for a second goal after taking the lead.

Their keeper Grech blocked Kooh Sohna twice in succession inside the area. Kooh Sohna played an intelligent through pass on the half hour but the Flo- riana keeper reached for the ball before Giannopoulos.

Floriana were having plenty of possession but without really testing keeper Calleja Cremona. They missed a good opportunity on 35 minutes. Varela failed to connect on a Fontanella cross from the right and Pisani hit horrendously off target.

Shortly before the break, Floriana also had a Chiesa goal ruled out for an offside position.

For most of the second half, both sides did not have the ingenuity to do much with the ball and were at times expensively sluggish. Although Pembroke defended Floriana’s high crosses with some nervousness, the towering presence of Roppas and Radovnikovic always got the better of their opponents inside the area.

The introduction of Steve Pisani for Floriana and Darren Falzon for Pembroke was meant to lift the gloom that had descended at the Hibernians Stadium by the hour.

On 67 minutes Nayar thumped his shot against the bar as the Pembroke defence looked susceptible when trying to clear a Steve Pisani corner from the right.

Pembroke went close to an equaliser on 74 minutes with a Falzon curling free kick from the edge of the area on the left that landed on the roof of the net.

But all Pembroke’s hopes evaporated in thin air two minutes later as Floriana doubled their lead. Enzo Ruiz rose high to meet Steve Pisani’s long free kick and beat keeper Calleja Cremona with a powerful header.

Frustration grew for Pembroke as Barbetti walked out of the pitch and it took some minutes for him to be replaced by Tyrone Fenech. Meanwhile defender Owen Bugeja was sent off eight miunutes from time for a second bookable offence as Pembroke’s afternoon ended in more misery.