The Malta Independent on Sunday
Floriana dent champions’ perfect start
Football - BOV Premier League
his players to endure after the Greens took the lead shortly before the break.
For long spells, Floriana had to absorb their opponents’s pressure and their performance was leavened only by some inspirational saves by their goalkeeper Ini Akpan. To their credit, Tedesco’s boys did not surrender in the face of superior opposition and held to a point.
Hibernians had Jorge Elias starting in attack alongside Jurgen Degabriele as Clayton Failla was dropped to the bench. The Brazilian needs to adopt quicker to his new environment.
Floriana made two changes in their starting line-up as Clyde Borg returned to replace Marcelina and Arthur Oyama started as left back instead of James Baldacchino.
The Greens’ keeper Akpan was kept busy in the initial stages, having to deal with a series of high balls raked inside his area by Hibernians.
On seventh minute, on Lima’s delivery of a free kick, he misjudged his sortie but Rui Gomes shot the loose ball against the upright. Thereafter Hibernians enjoyed the lion’s share of possession without creating a great deal until midway through the half. Lima ran through inside the Floriana area. The Brazilian was one-on-one with Akpan, but the Floriana goalkeeper came out on top, blocking the midfielder’s shot with both hands.
A minute later an Agius cross from the left found Degabriele unmarked inside the Floriana area.
The Hibernians’ striker failed to finish off though, when blocked by Akpan twice in succession.
The goal came on the other end against the run of play though. Floriana, who had hardly threatened, struck five minutes before the break. Pisani played a corner kick from the left and defender Enzo Ruiz headed past keeper Hogg to give the Greens the lead by halftime.
The goal served to give Floriana greater confidence and hampered Hibernians’s rhythm in the second half.
Cabral failed to connect on an inviting bouncing ball inside the Hibernians’ area and on 54 minutes Cini advanced down the right but put his shot wide.
Anxious not to be eclipsed, Hibernians tried to push more forward.
Jorge Elias had a goal disallowed for offside past the hour and when two minutes later, the ball ended up in Floriana’s net, on a Lima free kick, the goal was also ruled out among loud protests.
The champions’ efforts were rewarded on 73 minutes. Marco Sahanek took the ball into his stride as he advanced from midfield and unleashed a low powerful drive from edge of area to beat keeper Akpan and level matters.
Hibernians kept chasing a winner in the closing stages but they eventually fell short when a Soares free kick was blocked by the Floriana wall and a late Sahanek effort was repelled by the inspiring Floriana shot-stopper Akpan.