FLORIANA 3
El Hasni 60; Reid 80
De Grazia 88
SIRENS 0
FLORIANA
G. Kitanov, O. El Hasni, M. Veselji (82 A. Magri Overand), J. Arias (82 K. Nwoko), K. Reid, M. da Sousa, D. Vella, C. Zammit Lonardelli, L. de Garzia, M. Valadzko, A. Kouro.
SIRENS
A. Cassar, T. Almeida, P. Boakye, N. Pulis, D. Opoku, H. Akadom (73 F. Boateng), A. Cini, K. Donsu (80 J. Hinestroza), K. Degran, M. Moro (28 C. Agyemang), N. Brizolara.
Referee: Daniel Casha.
Yellow cards: De Sousa, Akadom, Almeida,
Floriana’s miserable run of two matches without a win came to an end as three goals in the second half gave them the points against Sirens.
The Greens struggled in recent weeks, dropping points against inferior opponents but they had to battle hard to ensure they were back to winning ways.
Mauro Camoranesi’s side will again enjoy the view from the top of the Premier League to renew their rivalry with Ħamrun Spartans who dropped two points against Mosta.
Floriana had the best early chance when Mattia Veselji tested Andrea Cassar with a firm header.
On the half hour stroke, Matheus de Sousa headed just wide after a well-worked action by Ulises Arias.
The Floriana defence betrayed signs of uneasiness when faced by the persistent running of Charles Agyemang.
The Ghanian midfielder was the architect of a piercing move on 35 minutes, gliding towards the centre with a diagonal run before slipping the ball to the advancing Guylherme Brizolara who shot wide.
A few seconds later, Tiago Almeida forced a great save from Georgi Kitanov with a thunderous header after another sparkling run down the left.
Camoranesi’s team finally started to build up some momentum towards the interval.
Floriana almost broke the deadlock on the brink of half-time, but Arias was blocked just in time by the rearguard, when he was about to pull the trigger. Then, Cassar did well to save from Veselji after the ball took a fortuitous deflection.
The frenetic pace continued after the break with Floriana doing the pressing and Sirens relying on counter-attacking football.
An almighty scramble saw Prosper Boakye dangerously deflecting the ball over from Lorenzo de Grazia.
Sirens were still looking lively in attack and playing a full part in an open encounter.
But then, the northerners undid all their good work as a horrible lapse of concentration in defence cost them dear.
Arias whipped in a dangerous ball across a sea of black shirts to find Oualid El Hasni at the far post. The Tunisian defender unmarked, headed the ball behind Cassar.
But instead of inspiring Floriana to take full control of the game, the goal had the opposite effect of stinging Sirens into more action.
Mohammed Hafiz Akadom dazzled with his pace and trickery as he outsmarted Carlo Zammit Lonardelli but shot straight into Kitanov’s hands.
Still. Floriana were good value for their lead and as Sirens continued to press forward, the hard-working Kemar Reid clinched the win.
He struck ten minutes from time – his sixth goal of the season to secure the points and celebrate his first Malta call up by coach Michele Marcolini.
Yet there was still time for Lorenzo de Grazia to put gloss on the victory, albeit the final 3-0 scoreline was too harsh on Sirens.
