Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/785757
50 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2017 FOOTBALL Ignacio Varela (Floriana) and Christian Bubalovic (Birkirkara) challenging each other for the ball Mario Fontanella scores twice as Floriana win 2-1 against Birkirkara Birkirkara .................. 1 Floriana ..................... 2 WARREN ZAMMIT FLORIANA made a f lying start to the match and went ahead after just three minutes. Ryan Camenzuli sent a cross inside the penalty area towards the un- marked Mario Fontanella who in front of Bonello finished inside the net. Birkirkara replied two minutes later. From a free kick, Miguel Angel Alba sent a cross inside the penalty area in the direction of Christian Bubalovic whose header produced a good save from Justin Haber. In the remaining 40 minutes, Birkirkara tried to put pres- sure on Floriana, but failed to produce any real chances. On the other hand, the greens con- trolled their opponents well as the first half ended 1-0 in favour of Giovanni Tedesco's side. The stripes kept putting pres- sure in the second half and had a good chance on the 50th minute. Edward Herrera sent a shot from distance that ended slightly over. On the 52nd minute, Srdan Dimitrov of Birkirkara won pos- session at the heart of Floriana's defence and went inside the pen- alty area before hitting a low shot that was neutralised by Haber. However, Floriana doubled the score five minutes later. Steve Pisani sent Fontanella through and the latter went past Bonello before finishing inside the net to score his second goal of the match. On the 63rd minute, Cain At- tard of Birkirkara received the ball on the right side of the pen- alty area and hit a volley that ended off target. Floriana had a good chance on the 77th minute. Camenzuli fired a low shot that sailed wide of the post. On the 82nd minute, Haber was on the alert to deny Mat- thew Guillaumier. The young- ster sent a shot from distance that forced a good save from the Floriana goalkeeper. In the additional time given by the referee, Birkirkara man- aged to pull one back. Vito Plut received the ball inside the pen- alty area and hit a low shot past Haber. Birkirkara starting line-up: Henry Bonello, Edward Her- rera, Christian Bubalovic, Ga- reth Sciberras, Mislav Andelko- vic, Srdan Dimitrov, Vito Plut, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Miguel Angel Alba, Cain Attard. Floriana starting line-up: Justin Haber, Enrico Pepe, Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani, Ignacio Varela, Se- bastian Nayar, Maurizio Vella, Jurgen Pisani, Alex Cini, Mario Fontanella, Ryan Camenzuli. Referee: Malcolm Spiteri Assistant Referees: Edward Spi- teri, Paul Apap Fourth Of ficial: Trustin Farru- gia Cann BOV player of the match: Mario Fontanella (Floriana) PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG