Stripes too strong for Greens

Birkirkara proved to be a very strong outfit for Floriana as they dominated the proceedings throughout the whole 70 minutes with Floriana only managing two shots from free kicks.

The Stripes commenced on the offensive. Isaiah Micallef had a run down the right flank and after entering the area, Floriana keeper Gianluca Genovese partly saved his shot with a defender clearing the ball away.

Birkirkara opened their account in the 8th minute as Jacob Bonello dribbled past an opponent on the left flank, crossed the ball in the area to Micallef and Glending Farrugia scored with a hard low drive after being served with a square pass by Micallef. Floriana won a free kick after Shaun Hatherly was fouled on the left flank but keeper Karl Sargent easily saved the free kick by Jamie Farrugia.

The score became 2-0 in the 21st minute. Dylan Galea served Bonello with a cross outside the area and after Genovese partly saved his shot, Zamkin Vella followed the action and scored from the rebound.

It became 3-0 five minutes later as Micallef served Vella with a through ball in the area who scored with a rising shot.

Floriana then won a free kick as Farrugia was fouled on the right flank and from the same player’s free kick the ball was easily headed away.

All actions after the restart were mounted by Birkirkara. Micallef dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and after crossing the ball to substitute Luke Vella in the area, Genovese saved his shot in two attempts.

After a run down the right flank by Micallef he crossed the ball to Vella who with an open goal at his mercy drove out.

Substitute Dejan Bogdanovic headed over the bar after a flag kick by Farrugia.

Birkirkara scored a fourth goal in the 56th minute as Nathan Bonello scored with a header from inside the area after a flag kick by Farrugia and four minutes before the end the score became 5-0 as Farrugia entered the area after dribbling past an opponent and Genovese denied him with a diving save to a corner. But the same player scored direct from the flag kick with a perfect curling shot.

Floriana: G.Genovese, K.Carabott, R.Caruana, S.Hatherly, E.Micallef, J.Farrugia, M.Lufi, L.Accarino, N.Cassar, D.D’Agostino, S.Farrugia.

Birkirkara: K.Sargent, I.Ellul, D.Tabone Desira, M.Alouzi, N.Bonello, M.Abela, G.Farrugia, Z.Vella, I.Micallef, J.Bonello, D.Galea, Player of the match: Isaiah Micallef (Birkirkara). Referee: Marko Jakovljevic.