Rampant Floriana brush aside Sirens to go back on top

SIRENS 0

FLORIANA 3

Reid 37

Ciolacu 44, 56

SIRENS

J. Debono-6, H. Motta-6 (63 B. Gavrila), M. Lomis-6 (75 A. Effiong), D. Albanese-6.5 (63 J. Walker), A. Borg-6, C. Zammit Lonardelli-6.5, A. Cini-6, C. Riascos-6, D. Jackson-5.5 (81 C. Flores), V. Vieira-6.5, R. Neto-6.5.

FLORIANA

G. Kitanov-6.5, A. Magri Overend-6, C. Rutjens-6, Z. Cassar-6, R. Hovsepyan-6 (66 M. Garcia), K. Reid-6.5 (66 E. Rebenja), A. Ciolacu-7 (85 M. Micallef), B. Paiber-6.5, A. Vella-6 (66 A. Garzia), E. Callegari-6, J. Busuttil-7 (76 K. Keqi).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Cassar, Rebenja, Riascos.

BOV Player of the match: Andrei Ciolacu (Floriana).

Floriana moved back on top the BOV Premier League table thanks to a fine 3-0 win over Sirens.

The Greens found it difficult to penetrate in the early stages but once they managed to take the lead, they never looked back, adding another two goals to register a comfortable win.

Following this defeat, Sirens remain sixth but have to wait for another week to know whether they would make it to the top six as they lie just one point ahead of Gudja United and two ahead of Valletta and Mosta with one match to go.

The Greens went in search of an early goal and after nine minutes Andrea Ciolacu headed over from an Andreas Vella cross.

Sirens replied with a good move by Vitor Vieira who exchanged the ball with Marios Lomis on the left and entered the area but his attempt was neutralised by goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov.

Five minutes later, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli headed just wide from a Diego Albanese pass.

Floriana took the lead on 37 minutes.

Brandon Paiber passed the ball to Ciolacu who put Kemar Reid through and the Jamaican rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball into the back of the net.

Sirens hit back with a Carlos Riascos Castillo effort from the edge of the area which was parried by the Floriana goalkeeper.

However, one minute from the end of the first half, Floriana doubled the score.

Jan Busuttil served Ciolacu and the latter beat Debono with an angled shot.

The Greens maintained the pressure in the second half and increased the lead on 56 minutes.

The Sirens rearguard blocked a Brandon Paiber freekick but failed to clear the ball into safety and Ciolacu hit home from close in.

Just past the hour, Zammit Lonardelli was denied by Kitanov and four minutes later the Bugarian goalkeeper was at his best to keep out Riascos’ effort.

At the other end of the pitch, Jan Busuttil concluded a fine solo effort with a shot from the edge of the area ending over.

Four minutes from time, Zammit Lonardelli went close to reducing the gap with another fine shot from outside the area but Kitanov turned his attempt into a corner.