Floriana strike late to see off Valletta and seal top spot in Closing Round

FLORIANA   2         

M’Mombwa 90; Dervisagic 90+

VALLETTA   0

With the win, the Greens moved 12 points clear at the top and are sure of taking the top spot.

All that remains to be determined is whether the title will be awarded through adecider between Floriana and Opening Round winners Ħamrun Spartans or whether it will be up to a Final Four should another team, other than Ħamrun, take second place.

Valletta were a better side in the opening minutes but over time, the Greens grew more confidence.

The two teams continued to share the exchanges throughout the second half with Floriana scoring twice to take the three points, although a draw would have been enough to secure the top spot.

Floriana coach Daniel Portela opted to start with the same players who had started the previous game against Marsaxlokk with Jake Grech being retained on the bench.

Valletta, on the other hand, handed Mattias Ellul and Steve Borg a start with Neil Micallef being among the substitutes, replacing Borg early in the second half, and Thaylor unavailable as he served a one-match ban.

The Citizens held the initiative in the early stages, going close with a Yuri Messias effort from outside the area, which was deflected into a corner by a defender on 17 minutes, and four minutes later, Jake Azzopardi had a shot from outside the area which just missed the target.

Floriana replied with a Iago Mendonca low effort which ended wide on 32 minutes.

Two minutes later, Moise Mbende lost the ball to Rui Areias, who advanced before hitting high from outside the area.

Areias then concluded a good move on the right on 38 minutes with a rising shot which, however, ended high.

Then, two minutes from the end of the first half, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, served by Paul Mbong on the right, had an angled shot neutralised by the Valletta goalkeeper.

In added time, Diogo Tavares concluded high from the edge of the area off a Yuri Messias corner.

Eight minutes in the second half, Alen Kurtalic headed just wide off a cross by Varela from the right.

On 62 minutes, a close-range header by Yuri was blocked by Zammit Lonardelli with Mattias Ellul hitting high off the rebound.

Owen Spiteri went close with a header on 65 minutes for Floriana. Seven minutes later,

Yuri had a shot from the edge of the area ending high  and hardly a minute later, Diogo Tavares had a powerful shot blocked into a corner by a defender.

Valletta had a good opportunity of opening the score but Mattias Ellul, served on the left, had a powerful shot neutralised by goalkeeper Guilherme Cioletti.

But with one minute to go, on the other side of the pitch, Spiteri saw goalkeeper Adilson Maringa turn into a corner his fine header.

Three minutes in added time, Floriana managed to take the lead. Federico Varela delivered a cross from the right and following a short clearance by a defender, Charles M’Mombwa drilled the ball past goalkeeper Adilson Maringa.

However, it was not over yet as ten minutes in stoppage time, the Greens doubled the score.

Substitute Mustapha Jah concluded a good run on the left flank with a low shot which was partially saved by the Valletta goalkeeper and another substitute, Kenan Dervisagic, placed the ball at the back of the net.