Late flurry earns Greens first win

Pietà Hotspurs 1
Floriana 3

Three goals in the last 15 minutes saw Floriana chalking up their first league win of the season after they came from a goal down to beat Pietà Hotspurs in a keenly-contested match at the National Stadium.

All in all, it was a deserved success for the Greens who produced the better fare throughout the 90 minutes and meritedly bagged their first three-pointer that lifted them off the bottom spot.

Initially, it seemed that everything was going horribly wrong for Floriana who found themselves trailing against the run of play when Bernard Sciberras put Pietà ahead in the first half.

But they kept battling hard to redress the situation and after the change of ends they took control of proceedings with Pietà restricted to quick breaks mainly launched by the hard-working Martin Deanov.

Floriana created numerous chances but on various occasions they were let down by the poor finishing of their forwards.

However, their persistence was finally rewarded when Adrian Mifsud hit two quick goals and Trevor Cilia added another to seal their success.

This victory will lift the gloom from the struggling Greens who can now start looking for brighter prospects in their bold quest to finish among the top six.

A surprising feature on the Floriana team sheet was the inclusion of defenders Riad Mynel Gango-Rtsa and Ian Ciantar in the starting formation. On Friday, both players had been ruled out by coach Jan Artz who was without defender Julian Briffa and goalkeeper Simon Agius both suspended. Mauro Brincat is nursing a long-term injury.

The Hotspurs were still plagued by the absence of Italian striker Angelo Carmelo Sciuto and defender David Camenzuli while Domenic Mifsud was out of the equation as he is on duty for Malta U-19.

Floriana were almost regaled with an opener after seven minutes when Christian Cassar's cross from a free-kick was fluffed by Pietà goalkeeper Andrew Hogg but luckily for the Hotspurs Dean Gera was quick to clear danger.

Pietà's response arrived on 11 minutes when Andrew Decesare passed his marker before sending the ball towards Claudio Calleja whose shot was blocked in two attempts by Farrugia.

The Hotspurs again escaped unscathed after more poor defensive play when Ilian Deanov almost turned into his own net Trevor Cilia's cross but breathed a sigh of relief when the ball skimmed the upright.

Floriana were now starting to impose themselves on the match and on 26 minutes the woodwork denied Mifsud from putting his team ahead when the former Sliema forward, back from suspension, saw his header hit the bar.

However, it was Pietà who broke the stalemate against the run of play on the half hour. Martin Deanov won a free-kick on the right and the Bulgarian midfielder's delivery found Sciberras who headed firmly past Farrugia.

Floriana threw everything in attack in search of a quick equaliser but it was Pietà who threatened again when in a swift break Deanov's angled shot was thwarted by Farrugia.

At the restart Artz roped in a third striker, Anthony Evi Parker, in lieu of Christian Caruana to add more firepower to his forward line.

Martin Deanov's pace kept tormenting the Greens' defence. On 47 minutes he was first on a long ball before firing a rasping drive that was tipped to corner by Farrugia.

At the other end, Floriana missed two clear chances to draw level.

First, Nicolò Baldacchino picked Mifsud unmarked in the area but the Floriana striker shot straight into Hogg. Then, Baldacchino, put in a favourable position by Manolito Micallef, hit over from close in.

On the stroke of the hour, Floriana were again close when from a Cilia corner the ball bounced invitingly for Micallef whose header finished wide.

Evi Parker missed a glorious chance on 72 minutes when he pounced on some hesitant defending by Pietà but incredibly shot over with only Hogg to beat.

But the Nigerian soon made amends when he released Mifsud with a deft flick and the latter chipped over the onrushing Hogg to the delight of the Greens fans.

Floriana now sensed that they could win this match and eight minutes from time their efforts were rewarded when Hogg rushed out to punch away Cassar's long ball but the ball fell into the feet of Mifsud who scored inside an empty net.

The Greens were not finished yet and assured themselves of the win when Micallef lofted the ball into the area, Hogg misjudged the cross and in came Cilia to make it 3-1 from a tight angle.

Pietà: A. Hogg-5, B. Sciberras-6, I. Deanov-6, M. Deanov-8, S. Ciscaldi-6, C. Calleja-6, A. Spiteri-6 ('78 E. Spiteri), D. Gera-6, H. Schembri-6, A. Decesare-6 ('47 R. Camilleri-5.5), R. Grech-5.5.

Floriana: D. Farrugia-6, I. Azzo-pardi-6.5, C. Cassar-7.5, T. Cilia-7, M. Micallef-6.5, K. Fabri-6, I. Ciantar-6, A. Mifsud-7 ('87 J. Borg), R.M. Gango-Rtsa-6, C. Caruana-5 ('46 A. Evi Parker-6), N. Baldacchino-5.5 ('68 R. Darmanin-6).

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Scorers: Sciberras 30; Mifsud 74, 82; Cilia 84.

Yellow Cards: Ciscaldi, Decesare, Ciantar, Gera, Fabri.

BoV Player of the Match: Martin Deanov (Pietà Hotspurs).