Floriana 3
M. Briffa 26; Anonam 44, 90
Marsaxlokk 1
Barbara 12
Floriana put last week's disappointing performance against Msida St Joseph behind them as they fought back from a goal down to beat Marsaxlokk yesterday.
It was indeed a strong response from the Floriana players who had been severely criticised following their abject performance in the 4-1 defeat to Msida.
Things did not look rosy for Floriana after they fell behind after only 12 minutes yesterday. However, the Greens refused to panic and inspired by their talismanic midfielder Christian Caruana, they slowly clicked into gear and turned the match in their favour with two goals before the end of the first half.
After the restart, Floriana again showed excellent defensive organisation to keep the Marsaxlokk forwards at bay before finally hitting the coup de grace in time added to go fourth in the standings on eight points.
Floriana coach Zoran Popovic effected two changes to his starting formation. Midfielder Mauro Brincat was serving a one-match ban while striker Aleksandr Madzar was dropped to the bench. Joseph Borg and Marlon Briffa were handed a rare start by the Serbian coach.
William Camenzuli was back in the Marsaxlokk starting formation in place of the injured Christian Cassar, the only change made by coach Brian Talbot who was still without injured pair Julio Alcorse and Kevin Sammut.
Marsaxlokk started the game in attacking fashion and inside the first minute, Stephen Wellman had set up Claude Mattocks whose curling drive was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Dejan Maksic.
Floriana's reply arrived on nine minutes when Clyde Camoin made headway on the left before sending a teasing cross into the path of the unmarked Ryan Darmanin who shot over in front of a gaping goal.
The Greens paid dearly for this miss as after 12 minutes, Marsaxlokk took the lead. Malcolm Licari advanced on the right before crossing the ball for Mark Barbara who stabbed the ball past Maksic.
Marsaxlokk were expected to take control of the game after their breakthrough but instead it was Floriana who came more into the picture. Their improvement paid its just rewards on 26 minutes when the Marsaxlokk defence failed to deal with a Sunday Eboh cross, the ball fell to Marlon Briffa who scored with a powerful volley.
Marsaxlokk responded quickly and four minutes later, the woodwork denied them a second goal when Carlo Mamo was first to a Camenzuli corner but his header came off the upright.
On the stroke of half-time, Floriana went 2-1 up. Their goal was created by the talented Caruana whose precise throughball released Orosco Anonam who beat Darmanin with a rasping drive.
At the start of the second half, Talbot made two substitutions in a bid to add more attacking impetus to his team's play with Marcelo Pereira and Renato Conceicao coming on for Licari and Mattocks.
It was Floriana, however, who made the first chance after the restart when on 53 minutes, Caruana picked Darmanin whose strong shot finished wide.
Three minutes later, Brazilian striker Pereira should have restored equilibrium for Marsaxlokk when he was put through by Conceicao but his effort was blocked by Maksic.
Twenty minutes from time, Popovic looked to put in fresh legs in midfield when Dylan Zarb replaced the tiring Caruana.
Marsaxlokk were dominating possession without creating any danger to the Greens' defence.
Four minutes from time, substitute Mark Gauci should have put the result beyond Marsaxlokk's reach but he fired over.
At the other end, Brian Said had a glorious chance to draw level but the Malta defender headed just wide from routine distance.
Anonam put the seal on Floriana's win in time added on when he beat Darmanin with a strong shot.
Floriana
D. Maksic-6.5, D. Pisani-6, C. Camoin-6.5, J. Briffa-6, S. Eboh-7.5, J. Borg-6.5 ('60 M. Gauci-5.5), P. Doffo-6.5, O. Anonam-7, M. Briffa-6.5, C. Caruana-7.5 ('70 D. Zarb-6), R. Darmanin-6.5 ('84 A. Madzar).
Marsaxlokk
S. Darmanin-6, M. Licari-5.5 ('46 R. Conceicao-6), W. Camenzuli-6 ('75 A. Buttigieg), B. Said-5.5, C. Brincat-5.5, C. Mamo-6, M. Barbara-6, P. Pullicino-6.5, G. Sciberras-5.5, C. Mattocks-6 ('46 M. Pereira-4.5), S. Wellmann-6.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Doffo; M. Briffa; Said; Eboh; Gauci.
BoV Player of the match: Sunday Eboh (Floriana).
Next fixtures (National Stadium)
Friday: 7.30 p.m. Ħamrun Spartans vs Birkirkara.
Saturday: 4 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Tarxien Rainbows; 6 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Hibernians.
Sunday: 4 p.m. Qormi vs Floriana; 6 p.m. Valletta vs Msida St Joseph.