360Sports Malta Premier 2024/25
Floriana….3
Balzan……0
Floriana sought three points in this game to secure their second-place position after a disappointing result against Marsaxlokk in their last encounter. On the other hand, Balzan has had a rather disappointing season and currently sits among the bottom six teams. Balzan came into this match after a loss against Melita.
Floriana made their intentions clear right from the start and took the lead after eight minutes. A cross from Yameogo on the right found Sasere unmarked in the box, but he failed to convert.
The Greens had another chance in the last minutes of the first half. Garcia took a shot from distance, but his effort was saved comfortably by Golovic.
Balzan responded in the fifty-fifth minute when Jan Busuttil’s shot from a cross was neutralized by Mafoumbi. This was the last action in the first half as both sides went into halftime with Floriana leading 1-0.
Floriana extended their lead early in the second half. After a corner delivered by Rodrigues, Golovic made a poor clearance. The ball fell to El Hasni, who passed it to Sasere, doubling their advantage.
Floriana increased the lead on 64 minutes when following a good run, Thiaguinho served Jake Grech who passed the ball to Franklin Sasere who flicked the ball back to Thiaguinho to enter the area and hit low past the Balzan goalkeeper.
Four minutes from time, Sasere could have completed a hat-trick but his header off a cross by Fernandinho from the left hit the woodwork. In added time, Carson Bushman-Dormond also hit the upright for Balzan.
FLORIANA: Henri Mafoumbi, Oualid El Hansi, Jake Grech (Luca Accarino – 83), Kemar Reid, Thiago Nascimento (Kyrian Nwoko – 83), Dunstan Vella (Neil Cassar – 89), Matias Garcia (Emerson Santos – 70), Franklin Sasere (Gerrard Roders – 89), Alexandros Kouro, Fernando Rodrigues, Cedric Yamaeogo
BALZAN: Danilo Golovic, Samir Arab, Triston Caruana (Marcel Lima – 59), Nicholas Pulis, Isaac Westendorf (Benjamin Hili – 76), Jan Busuttil, Dimeji Awosanya, Braham Stanic (Gabriel Farrugia – 76), Jake Grech (Marcus Grima – 83), Kevin Williams, Alexander Akpan (Emanuel Buschman-Dormund – 59)
