Watch: Nine-man Floriana fight back to oust Gżira United in shoot-out and reach Trophy final

FLORIANA       2

Garcia 45; Reid 53

GŻIRA UNITED             2

Bohrer 11; Z. Cassar 36

(Floriana win 5-4 on penalties)

FLORIANA

N. Andrijanic, O. El Hasni, A. Garzia (59 J. Grech), O. Spiteri, C. Zammit Lonardelli, D. Vella, M. Garcia, A. Kouros (37 G. Yameogo), W. Furtado (90 M. Veselji), K. Reid, Matheus (110 A. Magri Overend).

GŻIRA UNITED

D. Zarkov, G. Bohrer, M. Dias, C. Chaba (53 F. Romero) (113 T. Espindola), Z. Cassar, Z. Scerri (87 B. Borg), L. Riascos (61 Ewertton), Thaylor, J. Mendoza, K. Spence, L. Macula.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Yellow cards: Thaylor, Mendoza, Garcia, Grech, Macula, Ewertton.

Red cards: Garcia (F) 56; El Hasni (F) 75.

PENALTY SEQUENCE

Bohrer (G) goal 1-0; Veselji (F) goal 1-1; Mendoza (G) 2-1; Grech (F) goal 2-2; Ewertton (G) goal 3-2; Reid (F) goal 3-3; Thaylor (G) missed; Zammit Lonardelli (F) goal 3-4;  Espindola (G) goal 4-4; Andrijanic (F) 4-5.

Floriana showed remarkable resilience as despite having two players sent off they still managed to overcome the challenge of Gżira United in a tense shoot-out to reach Sunday’s FA Trophy final.

It looked like Gżira United were set to secure a third win over the Greens this season when surging into a two-goal lead.

But the Floriana players showed great resilience to fight back and level the match early in the second half.

The match seemed swinging back in Gżira’s favour when Floriana had Matias Garcia and Oualid El Hasni sent off.

But the Maroons failed to make their numerical superiority count as Floriana kept fighting to go on and win the match in a tense penalty shoot-out.

Floriana created the first chance after eight minutes of play when Willis Furtado’s low drive was somehow kept out by Danial Zarkov and in came Matheus who blasted home. However, the ‘goal’ was annulled as the Brazilian was in an offside position.

At the other end, Andrijanic was alert to push away Thaylor’s shot from a close angle.

From the resultant corner, Gżira struck. Gabriel Bohrer, author of a brace against Floriana last Friday, was again the Greens’ tormentor when he latched to Jackson Mendoza’s cross and headed past Andrijanic.

Floriana were unlucky not to draw level on 17 minutes when Alexander Kouro’s thunderous drive hit the upright with Zarkov beaten.

Just past the half hour mark, Gżira threatened again when Mendoza played in Lucas Macula but his shot finished wide.

Gżira doubled their lead on 36 minutes when from another corner, Andrijanic punched the ball away into the path of Zachary Cassar who unleashed a powerful volley into the net.

Floriana responded with a Matias Garcia’s shot that was pushed away by Zarkov.

The Greens pulled a goal back in stoppage time when Garcia met Reid’s cross from a corner and headed the ball past Zarkov.

Floriana came out fighting after the break and on 47 minutes Reid thought he equalised but his header was cleared off the line by Zachary Scerri.

But the Malta forward was not to be denied as from another corner, this time he headed the ball past Zarkov.

Floriana almost grabbed a third when Zammit Lonardelli was denied by the onrushing Zarkov.

But a minute later, the Greens finished with ten men when Garcia was dismissed for a second booking.

More woes followed for Floriana as El Hasni was also shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Macula.

Eleven minutes from time, Mednoza fed Macula who turned past his marker but his shot skimmed the upright

Despite being with two men down Floriana kept pushing and on 83 minutes Vella fed Reid who was denied by Zarkov as the match dragged into extra-time.

On 99 minutes, Veselji almost grabbed a third for Floriana but was thwarted by Zarkov.

In first half stoppage time, the Greens came even closer when Jake Grech’s inswinger hit the bar.

Gżira also hit the woodwork on 107 minutes, when Macula’s downward header hit the upright before the Greens cleared. Seconds later, Andrijanic pulled off a fine save to push away Bohrer’s shot.

The stalemate prevailed and a shoot-out was required with Thaylor the only player to miss from the spot and Floriana goalkeeper Andrijanic sending Floriana to the final when converting the fifth and final penalty.