Floriana edge past Żabbar St Patrick to get back to winning ways

FLORIANA   1       

Becerra 8

ŻABBAR SP 0

FLORIANA

C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, E. Mashike (78 Fernandinho), Z. Scerri, J. Becerra (67 J. Grech), M. Garcia, G. Gamarra, F. Sastre, A. Kouros, A. Garzia, G. Yameogo.

ŻABBAR

L. Camilleri, J. Micallef (86 I. Akpan), W. Bonilha, B. Gambarte (64 M. Santos), Z. Grech (46 S. Ilic), J. Pisani, D. Tavares (86 S. Gatt), V. De Paiva, K. Keqi (57 D. Oliveira), J. Pedro, D. Jovicic.

Referee: Alex Johnson.

Yellow cards: Becerra, Jovicic,

An early goal by Jork Becerra enabled Floriana to return to winning ways as they defeated Żabbar St Patrick 1-0.

It was definitely not an easy game for the Greens as in Żabbar, they found a most determined side who fought hard to earn a positive result from the game.

This win enables Floriana to leapfrog a number of teams lying on the six-point mark, including Żabbar, as they move third, one point behind Ħamrun Spartans and two behind Marsaxlokk.

The Greens had three changes from the team which drew with Ħamrun Spartans as Carlo Zammit Lonardelli was ruled out through suspension and Dunstan Vella was recovering from an injury while Jake Grech was included as a substitute.

Darren Abdilla handed Zachary Scerri and Elvis Mashike their first start while Aleandro Garzia was also named in the starting line-up.

On the other hand, for the Saints, Joao Pedro and Djordje Jovicic were back in the starting line-up as Strahinja Jovancic was missing and David Oliveira started on the bench.

Floriana had a perfect start, taking the lead on eight minutes. Franklin Sasere delivered a cross from the left and Jork Becerra hit low with the ball hitting the foot of the upright before ending at the back of the net.

However, for the rest of the first half, play was concentrated in midfield with the two goalkeepers hardly being tested until Diogo Tavares had a freekick from the left blocked by Mafoumbi on 35 minutes.

Five minutes from the end of the first half, Becerra headed just wide off a Gonzalo Gamarra corner from the right.

Eleven minutes in the second half, Kristian Keqi tried his luck with an overhead kick but his attempt ended off target.

Floriana replied on the hour with an Elvis Mashike header from close range, following a good move between Becerra and Franklin Sasere on the right, which was saved by Żabbar goalkeeper Luca Camilleri.

With ten minutes to go, Żabbar had a good opportunity to equalise with a cross by Vinicius De Paiva from the left from which Stefan llic just failed to connect from close range.

Two minutes later, a close-range header by Marcelo Santos was neutralised by Mafoumbi. Mafoumbi again was at his best to push away Tavares’ shot from a free-kick.

Floriana could have killed off the match a minute from time but Camiller produced a fine save to keep out a Jake Grech effort from a free-kick.

In stoppage time, Grech was again close when he turned round the goalkeeper but his effort was cleared off the line by Wallace Bonilha.