Resilient Melita strike at the death to hold Floriana in six-goal thriller

FLORIANA   3       

Zammit Lonardelli 40

Nwoko 64; Veselji 70

MELITA                3       

Simanca 8; Andre 37; Attard 90

FLORIANA

C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, M. Veselji (89 O. Spiteri), J. Grech, T. Santos, D. Vella, M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli (46 A. Garzia), K. Nwoko (82 A. Obonogwu), A. Kouro, Fernandinho.

MELITA

G. Mizzi, A. Simanca (70 G. Barone), J.P. Attard, K. Mohnani, Andre (79 B. Cassar), M. Debattista (60 N. Cutajar), A. Borg Olivier, M. Van De Bovenkamp, J. Yepez (46 J. Barragan), K. Bondin (79 P. Galea Testaferrata), H. Motta.

Referee: Ezekiel Barbara.

Yellow cards: Zammit Lonardelli, Van de Bovenkamp, H. Motta.

A goal deep into stoppage time enabled newly-promoted Melita to rescue a point against Floriana in a highly-entertaining match.

The Greens played a very aggressive game, but Melita managed to take a two-goal lead.

Floriana showed great determination as they reduced the gap by the end of the first half before netting twice in the second to take a 3-2 lead. However, Melita notched a well-deserved equaliser in added time.

Melita, winners of the Challenge League last season, managed to frustrate their opponents throughout the 90 minutes and definitely did not deserve to leave the Tony Bezzina Stadium empty-handed.

Coach Clive Mizzi handed Aldair Simanca, Marc Van De Bovenkamp Font and Kurt Bondin their debut in an otherwise typical formation.

Floriana coach Darren Abdilla, on the other hand, could not count on Kemar Reid and new signing Franklin Sasere.

The Greens were the more aggressive side right from the start but Melita were doing an excellent job in controlling their opponents.

After eight minutes, Melita surprisingly took the lead when off an Alan Borg Olivier corner from the left, Aldair Simanca headed home.

Floriana had an excellent chance to equalise seven minutes later but Mattia Veselji missed from close range.

On 22 minutes, Fernandinho delivered a cross from the left and Jake Grech slotted the ball past goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Melita replied with an Alan Borg Olivier freekick which was turned into a corner by goalkeeper Mafoumbi on 36 minutes and from the resulting corner taken by Borg Olivier, Andre headed home to double Melita’s lead.

Floriana reduced the gap five minutes from half-time. Thiaguinho provided the assist from the right and Carlo Zammit Lonardelli beat goalkeeper Mizzi with a well-placed shot from outside the area.

In added time, Thiaguinho, served on the right by Jake Grech, concluded a good move with a powerful shot which was, however, blocked into a corner.

In the second half, the Greens maintained the pressure but were finding it difficult to penetrate the well-organised Melita rearguard. On 61 minutes, substitute Aleandro Garzia, who replaced the injured Zammit Lonardelli, tested Mizzi with a shot from outside the area.

Three minutes later, Floriana levelled matters. Thiaguniho served Dunstan Vella on the right and the latter provided a perfect assist for Kyrian Nwoko to place the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Jake Grech tried his luck with a powerful shot from outside the area but Mizzi neutralised his attempt on 66 minutes.

Floriana went 3-2 ahead four minutes later. Veselji pounced on a clearance by goalkeeper Mafoumbi and after avoiding a defender, he approached the penalty area before slotting the ball past the Melita goalkeeper.

However, four minutes in added time, Melita notched the equaliser. Ben Cassar released Jean Pierre Attard inside the area and the Melita captain slotted the ball past Mafoumbi.