Watch: Controversial Dervisagic goal hands record 27th title to Floriana

FLORIANA 2

Varela 56; Dervisagic 90

MARSAXLOKK              1          

Linden 36

FLORIANA

G. Cioletti, M. Beerman, F. Varela, D. Vella (55 J. Grech), A. Kurtalic, O. Spiteri, C. Zammit Lonardelli, C. M’Mombwa, I. Mendonca, P. Mbong (77 K. Dervisagic), R. Areias (55 M. Jah).

MARSAXLOKK

C. Mafoumbi, W. Soares, E. Pepe (90 E. Attard), N. Muscat, R. Linden (90 J. Kirby), J. Corbalan, U. Arias (67 R. Mihana), Dodo, J. Minala, L. Aguirre, D. Simkus (90 I. Christie).

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele

Yellow Cards: L. Aguirre. I. Mendonca, J. Minala, C. M’Mombwa, E. Pepe

It was a dramatic and controversial win for the Greens as after going a goal down during the first half, they managed to equalise before notching the winner in stoppage time.

Kenan Dervisagic got the winner in the third minute of stoppage time but the nature of the goal is likely to be a subject of controversy in the coming days as Marsaxlokk protested vehemently that the Bosnian forward didn’t make contact with the ball from Carlo Zammit Lonardelli’s cross.

But Floriana will not care as there were jubilant scenes at the final whistle as they celebrated their title triumph, the first after an absence of six years.

Floriana, who made it to the Final Four after winning the Closing Round, and finishing second in the Opening Round, were the team to collect the most number of points throughout the competition.  

Thanks to this league title, the first since they were awarded the championship in season 2019/20 when the competition was prematurely terminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Floriana have now established a record of twenty-seven championships.

For Marsaxlokk, it was disappointing to lose after being the better side during the first half. This summer, they will be participating in the UEFA Conference League.

In fact, Marsaxlokk showed greater determination and were in control throughout the first 45 minutes, taking a narrow lead.

However, on the restart, the Greens were a much-improved side and soon restored equilibrium but as the game seemed heading towards extra-time, they scored again to claim victory.

Floriana coach Daniel Portela made no changes to the team, which defeated Valletta on penalties. On the other hand, Enzo Potenza opted for one change as Rasmus Linden was preferred to Redon Mihana.

Marsaxlokk threatened with a cross by Ulises Arias after just four minutes but Iago Mendonca deflected the ball into a corner, and the resulting corner by Aguirre was cleared into safety by Mendonca.

Three minutes later, Dodo advanced into the area, ending onto the ground when challenged by a defender but the referee waved play on. Leandro Aguirre served Dodo on 15 minutes, but his long-distance effort ended off target.

The Greens replied with a good move by Charles M’Mombwa, followed by a cross shot from the left which was parried by goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi on 18 minutes.  

Marsaxlokk, however, managed to take the lead on 36 minutes.

Ulises Arias delivered a cross from the right and Rasmus Linden managed to anticipate Carlo Zammit Lonardelli and goalkeeper Guilherme Cioletti and lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper ending at the back of the net despite Owen Spiteri’s desperate attempt to clear into safety.

Two minutes in added time, Floriana went close to equalising. M’Mombwa delivered a cross from the right but Rui Areias’ header was neutralised by goalkeeper Mafoumbi.

Ten in the second half, Portela replaced Dunstan Vella and Rui Areias with Jake Grech and Mustapha Jah in a bid to increase their striking power, and one minute later, the Greens levelled matters.

Jah provided the assist to Federico Varela who beat goalkeeper Mafoumbi with an angled shot from the right.

Floriana were now brimming with confidence and on 64 minutes, Paul Mbong delivered a cross from the right with Alen Kurtalic’s fine header turned into a corner by Mafoumbi.

Two minutes later, off a Jake Grech corner, there was a header by Mendonca and Jah anticipated the goalkeeper with another header with the ball ending over the bar.

The Southseasiders missed a good opportunity on 74 minutes when Linden, served by Redon Mihana on the right, hit high from a good position inside the area and with one minute to go, Marsaxlokk captain Nikolai Muscat tested Cioletti with a shot from outside the area but the Floriana goalkeeper saved without particular dificulty.

However, two minutes in added time, Floriana notched the winner. There was a long throw in by Carlo Zammit Lonardelli from the right, and substitute Kenan Dervisagic flicked the ball past Mafoumbi, with the ball hitting the upright before ending at the back of the net.

Following FVS review whether the Floriana player made contact with the ball, referee Matthew De Gabriele convalidated the goal.

Twelve minutes in added time, Marsaxlokk could have equalised when off a cross by Aguirre, Weder Silva hit low with Minala and Dodo failing to connect from close range to miss a golden opportunity to restore equilibrium and force extra-time.

Seconds later, the full-time whistle arrived as Floriana kickstarted their title celebrations.