Floriana victory leaves Hotspurs in the mire

their opponents deep in the mire.

Floriana had drawn their last two matches against Tarxien Rainbows and Qormi but they returned to winning ways with a Matteo Piciollo header soon after the interval and an own goal by the Pieta defender Karl Micallef after Vito Plut had instigated the action. This despite Floriana having defender Sascha Borg sent off soon after the hour.

Pieta had hoped to build on the encouraging 2-1 win over Balzan at the end of the second round, but yesterday it was a case of one step forward, two steps back after also being eliminated from the FA Trophy against Birkirkara the previous week.

The Hotspurs had Orosco Anonam suspended and exiled Ricardo Costa and Kyle Cesare to the bench, giving a start to Joa Gabriel in front of their four-man defence. The rusty Charles Newuche keeps failing to leave an impression in the Hotspurs’ attack and most of the time his side looks like playing with ten men.

Floriana had Steve Pisani and Clyde Borg returning to their starting line-up, with Emanuel Briffa making way, but then went in as a substitute for the injured Steve Bonnici soon after the half hour.

Although both sides are in dire need of points, they showd very little energy during an unevent- ful first half as bleak as the afternoon weather at Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Pieta’s keeper Miguel Montfort was the busier goalkeeper though, twice properly tested within the first half hour.

After 19 minutes, he footed out Clyde Borg’s low shot from inisde the area, following a Pisani free kick. On 27 minutes, he held out Conor Borg’s header on a Sascha Borg cross from the left.

After that, substitute Briffa headed a Pisani corner from the right narrowly over.

Matthew Calleja Cremona had little to do at the other end but he did push a Jurgen Pisani long drive into a corner just before halftime.

The second half was slightly more enterprising. At least Floriana broke the stalemate within five minutes. On a Pisani freekick from the right, Matteo Picciollo’s header was not held by keeper Montfort and the ball ended over the line.

The Greens should have doubled their lead on the hour as Piciollo advanced on the left and could have passed the ball towards the middle for the unmarked Plut but decided to selfishly loft his shot over the Pieta goal.

Two minutes later, Floriana were down to ten men as their defender Sascha Borg was shown a second yellow card, after already being booked in the first half.

Pieta had effected a double substitution, putting in Kyle Cesare and Ricardo Costa but still looked unable to make their extra man count.

In fact they succumbed to Floriana’s second goal on 76 minutes, although in a rather unlucky manner. Vito Plut ran dangerously inside the Pieta area and voided keeper Montfort, but as his effort hit the base of the post, the ball rebounded off the Pieta defender Karl Micallef and ended into his own net.

With the points virtually secured, Floriana introduced Igor Coronado and even Manolito Micallef, both recovered from injuries, in the late stages as Pieta came up with a couple of late frantic efforts. Keeper Calleja Cremona turned a Frances free kick into a corner and Cesare had his shot blocked by the Floriana defenders from the edge of the area