Zammit Lonardelli seals top spot for Floriana in Opening Round

BIRKIRKARA 0

FLORIANA 1

Zammit Lonardelli 49

BIRKIRKARA

G. Volpe. M. Morello, A. Sandona, S. Dimech, P. Mbong (58 J. Siafa), K. Zammit, A. Satariano, L. Lacunza, N. Cross (58 Maicon), M. Maia, G. Yikpe (58 S. Paintsil)

FLORIANA

C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni Oualid, M. Veselji, J. Grech, D. Vella, O. Spiteri, M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli, F. Sasere, G. Yameogo, Emerson Souza.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara.

Yellow cards: Maia, Sandona, Veselji.

Floriana took a giant stride towards winning this season’s league title by taking top spot in the Opening Round of the new Premier League format.

At the end of the match, match winner Carlo Zammit Lonardelli celebrated the goal in a unique fashion in front of the TV cameras, and it was easy to see why.

Floriana have now assured themselves of not only playing in European football next season but should they manage to finish top also in the Closing Round they will be declared champions, without any need of going through the championship play-offs.

A sour note was the scarce crowd that attended this Opening Round decider, a clear sign that fans are yet to warm for this Premier League format.

Dunstan Vella was within inches of putting Floriana ahead after just five minutes, sending a low, driven shot narrowly wide.

Birkirkara escaped again six minutes later when Zammit Lonardelli squared the ball for Matias Garcia whose effort flashed across the face of goal.

Floriana were rarely troubled, although Guy Yameogo had to bravely intervene to deny Maia as he was shaped to shoot in the area. The Stripes won a succession of corners to put pressure on the Greens, but Christopher Mafoumbi blocked their efforts.

However, any thoughts that Birkirkara would emerge from half-time a more secure outfit were dispelled in the opening exchanges as Floriana surged ahead.

In a lovely passing move, Garcia picked up the ball from Jake Grech and fed the unmarked Zammit Lonardelli to shoot low into the corner.

De Angelis’s thoughts on Birkirkara’s performance reflected in his bold decision to make a triple substitution, bringing on Maicon, Seth Paintsil and Juan Siafa in lieu of Mbong, Cross and Gislain Yikpe.

Still, Floriana could have extended their lead with a devastating attack on 70 minutes when a superb cross from Garcia fell to Oualid El Hasni who headed straight into Giacomo Volpi’s hands.

The Greens were dominating the match, pulling the Stripes apart with ease but they were as hapless in front of goal as they were dominant elsewhere.

Five minutes from time, Garcia was allowed to stroll through midfield and feed Franklin Sasere, who turned leisurely past Kurt Zammit, raced clear on goal from the left – but with Grech unmarked and screaming for the ball in the middle, the Nigerian striker shot wastefully across goal.

Yet at death, Mafoumbi produced a pivotal moment, diving acrobatically to his right to palm away Maicon’s shot.