Floriana's Maksim Volodjko moves past Andrea Zammit. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
BIRKIRKARA 1
Ciolacu 67 pen.
FLORIANA 2
Veselji 24, Reid 81
BIRKIRKARA
M. Zapytowski, E. Pepe, A. Zammit (79 Adailton), K. Zammit (90 O. Elouni), A. Satariano, E. Beltre, A. Coppola, E. Sarpong (61 M. Maia), S. Zibo, A. Diakite (61 P. Mbong), A. Ciolacu.
FLORIANA
G. Kitanov, O. El Hasni (70 Garzia), M. Veselji (83 L. Furtado), J. Arias (70 J. Grech), M. Albuguerque (70 K Reid), D. Vella, O. Spiteri, M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli, M. Valaszko, A. Kouro.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Missed penalty: Veselji (F) 27.
Yellow cards: Sarpong, Zibo, Vella, Reid.
Substitute Kemar Reid came off the bench to give Floriana a 2-1 victory over Birkirkara as Andrei Ciolacu’s ninth Premier League goal from the spot was not enough to save his side from defeat.
Reid’s 10th goal of the season ensured Birkirkara moved back to the summit of the table alongside Ħamrun albeit the Spartans have a game in hand. Luciano Zauri’s side meet Naxxar Lions today.
The match had looked like heading for a draw after the Romanian striker had cancelled out Mattia Veselji’s early opener.
At times, Brian Chetcuti’s patched-up side were overwhelmed by Floriana’s surging superiority.
Yet when it looked that Birkirkara could turn the match in their favour late on Reid pounced with the winner to keep the Greens title challenge well alive.
Neither side could muster an effort on goal until Floriana striker Mattia Veselji had the first shot of note when he put a free-kick over the post after 12 minutes.
Battle was joined as Alessandro Coppola injected some venom when he hit a fierce freekick which crashed against the woodwork.
After that early scare, Floriana were slowly taking a grip on proceedings hitting top gear on 24 minutes. Veselji ended a jinking run with a powerful shot past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Marcel Zapytowski.
Three minutes later, referee Trustin Farrugia Cann pointed to the spot when Enrico Pepe hauled down Matheus inside the area. Veselji stepped up but his effort was saved by Zapytowski.
Instead of extending their lead, Floriana were pegged back after the change of ends.
The Stripes upped the tempo and were rewarded when they were awarded a penalty on 67 minutes. Coppola’s header from Gianluca Zammit’s corner hit the extended arm of Maksim Valadsko. Ciolacu made no mistake from the spot.
On 80 minutes, Maia was presented with a superb chance to give Birkirkara a shock lead but he dallied on the edge of the box and his shot was blocked by Dustan Vella.
Within minutes it was Floriana who charged ahead again.
Vella’s cross was not cleared by the Birkirkara defence and in came Reid who headed home to the delight of the Floriana clan.
Sliema Wanderers failed to keep the pace with Floriana as the Blues could only manage a 1-1 draw against Valletta at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.
After a drab first half, where there were few scoring chances, the Wanderers took the lead courtesy of Samuel Da Mata Gomes’ goal on 55 minutes.
But the Wanderers’ joy was shortlived as Valletta pulled level three minutes later when Sliema defender Jean Borg inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net.
In a direct relegation six-pointer, Mosta and Sirens fired blanks as they played out a goalless draw.
Mosta enjoyed the better share of possession in the first half and had several scoring opportunities but failed to find the breakthrough.
After the break, Sirens stepped up their game and started to threaten more but in the end, the stalemate prevailed.
With this result, Sirens moved to second-from-bottom on seven points while Mosta moved on the 16-point mark, two clear of the relegation zone.
MOSTA 0
SIRENS 0
Mosta
D. Ciappara, E. Aneni (53 S. Cipriott), G. Chara, J. Vassallo, W. Britto, P. Tenebe, G. Sciberras (87 J.P. Farrugia), B. Dao, C. Ndubuisi, A. Hovhannisyan, C. Nnaji (61 K. Tulimieri).
SIRENS
An. Cassar, D. Murillo, N. Pulis, K. Ntampizas, D. Agius, P. Owusu, K. Donsu, H. Gomda, B. Asare, G. Carrara, H. Panayiotou.
Referee Ishmael Barbara.
Yellow cards: Aneni, Cipriott, Britto Sciberras.
VALLETTA 1
Borg 58og
SLIEMA WANDERERS 1
Gomes 55
VALLETTA
Al. Guarnone, E. Ruiz (82 M. Jezdimirovic), G. Vieira, J. Bolanos, N. Micallef, F. Barrientos, S. Dimech (62 K. Ewurum), B. Paiber, V. Luiz, D. Cardoso, F. Falcone (40 S. Ferraris).
SLIEMA WANDERERS
R. Al Tumi, M. Beerman, J. Borg (90 N. Frendo), G. Alcino, M. Henrique, D. Kouao, E. Agius (72 M. Scerri), G. Acheampong, J. Minala, D. Kondrakov (72 M. Awad), S. Gomes.
