Areias’ stoppage time winner hands Floriana dramatic win over Gżira United

GŻIRA UNITED    1       

Maia 11

FLORIANA   2       

Jah 49, Areias 90

GŻIRA UNITED

E. Colombo, G. Mentz, D. Abela, A. Borg, B. Borg (75 S. Martinez), Andre, M. Maia, C. Failla, L. Riascos (75 J. Bonilla), S. Bastic (68 Kante), C. N’Sa.

FLORIANA

G. Cioletti, M. Beerman, J. Grech, K. Dervisagic (64 P. Mbong), F. Varela, A. Kurtalic, O. Spiteri, M. Jah (88 R. Areias), C. M’Mombwa (76 D. Vella), I. Mendonca, M. Veselji.

Referee: Daniel Casha.

Yellow Cards: M. Veselji, L. Riascos, G. Cioletti, A,. Kurtalic, D. Vella, M. Maia.

A Rui Areias goal ten minutes into stoppage time handed Floriana a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Gżira United.

The clash between the two teams sharing the top spot before Match-Day 21 saw the Maroons take an early lead, with the Greens hitting back early in the second half with the equaliser.

However, after the match was interrupted due to the throwing of objects from one of the sections of the fans, when the game resumed, Floriana notched the winner through Areas.

The win enabled Floriana to move one point ahead of Ħamrun Spartans while Gżira continue to share third place with Hibernians and Marsaxlokk.

Both sides had two changes from their previous outings.

Gabriel Mentz and Andre were back in the starting line-up for Gżira as they were preferred to Marc Van de Bovenkamp Font and Johan Bonilla.

On the other hand, Mustapha Jah and Charles M’Mombwa replaced Zachary Scerri and Dunstan Vella.

Floriana went out in search of an early goal and Jah headed wide off a cross by Myles Beerman from the left on four minutes.

But Gżira soon threatened with Luis Riascos’ header off a corner from the right by Failla.

The Maroons managed to take the lead on 11 minutes. Failla delivered a corner from the right and Maxuell Maia beat goalkeeper Guilherme Cioletti from close range.

Gżira maintained the pressure, and on 20 minutes, Maia pounced on a through ball and entered the area, but his conclusion was blocked by Cioletti.

Jah concluded a good move on the left for Floriana with a rising shot which ended wide on 23 minutes.

But at the other end, the Floriana custodian came to his team’s rescue, blocking a cross shot by Chrisnovic N’Sa on 29 minutes.

Fede Varela had a shot blocked by Gżira goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo on 36 minutes, and two minutes later, the Maroons no.1 saved an angled shot by Kenan Dervisagic.

Two minutes from the end of the first half, a goal-bound effort by Varela was blocked by a defender.

Four minutes in the second half, Floriana equalised. Jake Grech delivered a corner from the right and Jah beat Colombo from close range.

On 58 minutes, Edoardo Colombo blocked a cross shot by Dervisagic and a minute later, Mattia Veselji had a shot from the edge of the area ending just over the bar. Owen Spiteri had a first-time effort which scraped past the post and four minutes later, Varela had a powerful shot blocked by Colombo.

Three minutes from time, the game was interrupted for around ten minutes due to the throwing of objects from the Floriana stand.

When the match resumed, the Greens notched the winner.

Varela served Rui Areias on the left and the latter beat goalkeeper Colombo with a rising shot.