Floriana beat Valletta in extra time to win 21st FA Trophy

2021/22 IZIBET FA TROPHY FINAL
15.05.2022
National Stadium, Ta’ Qali,

VALLETTA…1
FLORIANA…2
(after extra time)
(HT 0-1, FT 1-1)

Eternal rivals Valletta and Floriana stretched each other to extra time in the 2021/22 Izibet FA Trophy Final today, with Floriana as worthy winners thanks to a wonderful late goal by substitute Andrei Ciolacu.  It was a pulsating Final, a real classic, with both sides creating numerous goalscoring opportunities throughout the match. Ta’ Qali was well filled and both sides of supporters brought a wonderful atmosphere. Valletta, who were also finalists of the last two FA Trophy finals, need to be complimented, giving their neighbours a good run for their money. Goalkeeper Alessandro Guarnone was in excellent shape, avoiding Floriana to score on several occasions.

The first goalscoring opportunity of the match arrived after five minutes when Kristian Keqi’s close range attempt was saved by Guarnone. Jose Arias’ header in the attack that followed sailed inched wide. Floriana were the dominant side in the opening half and scored the opener on 19 minutes. A cross from Arias from the left was met well by Jan Busuttil, who rose high above Eslit Sala to give Floriana the early goal they hoped for. Four minutes later, a Brandon Paiber volley from the edge of the box was fisted away by Guarnone. Busuttil beat the offside trap on the half hour but was again denied by Guarnone. With four minutes regular time left, Valletta had their first opportunity by Promise Akinpelu, but Christian Rutjens defended well and denied the Canadian.

Four minutes into the second half, Valletta were awarded a penalty when Adam Magri Overend fouled Andrea Zammit in the box. Mario Fontanella made no mistake from the spot against his former team to bring his side next to Floriana. From that moment, Valletta took over procedures and threatened to score on several occasions through mainly Akinpelu and Fontanella. On the other side, an Arias 20-meters distance free-kick on 70 minutes was paraded well by Guarnone. The Valletta custodian was called back into action on 77 minutes when he blocked a close-range effort by substitute Rumyan Hovsepyan, after some good work by Busuttil on the right flank.  On 86 minutes, a grounder by substitute Andrei Ciolacu was paraded by Guarnone, who stood out in this period with increasing pressure from Floriana to force a decider in regular time. Barely a minute after, Rutjens’ close-range effort, after again some good work by Busuttil, was again saved well by Guarnone. Deep into stoppage time, Fontanella (Valletta) and Busuttil could have scored the winner with two point-blank opportunities, but both strikers missed target.

In the last minute of the first half of extra time, Floriana were awarded a penalty when Rowen Muscat fouled Daniel Agius in the box. However, Busuttil missed target from 11-meters distance, much to the relief of the Valletta supporters. The decisive goal was scored six minutes into the second half of extra time, thanks to Ciolacu who scored with a wonderful first-timer from the edge of the box after an inch perfect Busuttil pass. Deep into stoppage time of extra time, substitute Jose Campos brought the best out of Kitanov, blocking the substitute’s close-range effort. However, Floriana managed to hold on to their slender lead, winning the FA Trophy for 21^st time in their history.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Attandance: 6,012.

Images copyright by Domenic Aquilina