Floriana brush aside Mosta to move on the brink of reclaiming the league title

FLORIANA 3

Fernandinho 8

Garcia 61; Mashike 84

MOSTA 0

FLORIANA

C, Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni Oualid, J. Grech (85 N. Cassar), D. Vella, O. Spiteri, M. Garcia (67 Z Scerri), J. Gamarra (67 G. Yameogo), F. Sasere (75 E. Mashike), A. Koros, A. Garzia (85 A. De Flavia), Fernandinho.

MOSTA

J. Demba, M. Bolanos (72 B. Farrugia), S. Cachia, J. Scerri (46 S. Chiemezie), G. Goncalves, C. Failla (70 K. Fenech), G. Sciberras (70 A. Agius), N. Agius, P. Emmanuel (85 F. Bugeja), C. Okereke, J. Vassallo.  

Referee:  Fyodor Zammit

Yellow cards: Bolanos, Emmanuel, Koros

Missed penalty: Sasere (F) 60

Floriana have one hand on the Premier League trophy after comfortably dispatching Mosta to seize control of the 360 Malta Premier League.

Having already won the Opening Round and now sitting at the top of the table — boasting a better head-to-head record over Marsaxlokk — the Greens are just one win away from securing the title.

Floriana will be crowned Premier League champions on Wednesday night if they defeat Birkirkara at the National Stadium.

A string of poor results, including one win in five matches had raised doubts over Floriana’s ability to wrap up the title after the Closing Round.

However, their rivals offered them a lifeline, dropping points as they neutralised each other in direct encounters.

Knowing that victory over Mosta was crucial, Floriana rose to the occasion and passed the test with flying colours, bringing them to the verge of championship glory.

The game was off to an explosive start. Cutting in from the right, Fernandinho hit a fierce shot which was blocked by Anse Demba Ngoubi.

But inside the first six minutes, Matthew Bolanos sent Fernandinho crashing to end another serious venture towards the Mosta penalty area.

The free-kick was awarded in the Brazilian’s territory.

Fernandinho picked himself up and exacted a delightful left-foot strike that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the net.

That goal should have signalled the opening of the floodgates, instead Floriana had to wait until the 36^th minute to test Demba again.

Matias Garcia let fly a rising shot that was pushed away by the Mosta goalkeeper.

The first chance of the second half fell to Floriana as Franklin Sasere’s header from Julian Gamarra’s cross finished just wide off the post.

Floriana looked to have received a boost to deliver the killer blow when they were awarded a penalty after Bolanos tripped Franklin Sasere inside the box.

Referee Fyodor Zammit cautioned the Mosta defender but Sasere took it casually and Demba beat away his spot kick.

Mosta’s reprieve was temporary though as Floriana doubled their lead immediately after.

Gamarra’s free-kick spread panic in the Blues box and Garcia headed the ball home.

Six minutes from time, Alejandro Garzia burst through on the right before supplying a perfect cross to Elvis Mashike, on for Sasere, who struggled to control the ball before his sweetly-struck shot bent past the diving Demba.