Qormi 1
Floriana 3
Qormi: J. Azzopardi, D. Mansi, Y. Yankam, S. Kim, M. Micallef, M.A. Arrieta (M. Camilleri 46'), G. Gesualdi (I. Zammit 55'), A. Cassar (A. Abela 81'), L. Adamec, K. Spoares Mendonca, T. Gusman.
Floriana: I. Akpan, I. Guberac (C. Borg 67'), P. Wleh (D. Agius 72'), E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, I. Varela, M. Vella, J. Cabral, C. Failla, J. Pisani, E. Marcelina.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Ass. Referees: Edward Spiteri, Theodore Zammit
Fourth official: Sandro Spiteri
Scorers: J. Cabral 3', C. Failla 27' pen, Y. Yankam 51', C. Borg 87'
Yellow cards: G. Gesualdi 11', E. Ruiz 39',
Attendance: 410
Player of the match: Yannick Yankam (Qormi)
TMI best three: 1. Y. Yankam, 2. M. Vella, 3. E. Marcelina
Floriana returned to winning ways after their defeat against Birkirkara by beating Qormi 3-1 in an interesting affair. Floriana took an early lead with a great Cabral freekick and doubled the score with a Failla penalty inside the first 30 minutes.
It looked like a walk in the park affair for Floriana, but Qormi had other ideas as they made a good rally in the second half with the Floriana defence at odds when under pressure. Yankam pulled one back and Qormi looked set for a great comeback, but the Yellows tired out and the Greens sealed the game with a late spectacular goal by substitute Clyde Borg.
Floriana coach Luis Oliveira made two changes from the side that lost against Birkirkara in their last outing. Instead of Oyama and the suspended Alex Cini, Patrick Wleh and Ivica Guberec were romped in.
Captain Steve Pisani was again employed on the right in the four men defensive set-up, as was the case against the Stripes when Cini was sent off. Guberac was employed in midfield, with Wleh joining Varela and Cabral in the front line.
Qormi coach Brian Spiteri made three changes from the side that was crushed by Valletta in the last outing. Alan Abela, Luke Busuttil and Iven Zammit were all relegated to the substitute's bench. Lubos Adamec was back in defence, and Seo In Kim and Arrieta were also back in the first eleven.
The game was barely three minutes old and Floriana were already in front when Juninho Cabral scored a gem of a goal direct from a freekick. Five minutes later the Greens went close again with another freekick, this time taken by Clayton Failla and the ball slightly missed the upright.
Qormi had a timid reaction with a Tensior Gusman header going over the bar after some good work on the right flank by Arrieta. On 27 minutes Floriana were awarded a penalty when a Maurizio Vella freekick, was handled by Davide Mansi in the Qormi wall, and from the penalty spot Clayton Failla doubled the score with the Qormi goalkeeper almost saving his shot.
Just before the break, Qormi went close with a rising shot from the left by Seo Kim, with the ball just going over the bar.
In the second half Qormi introduced Michael Camilleri, and the Yellows started to play better, with the Greens pushed inside their own penalty area. On 51 minutes Qormi were back in business when Mano Micallef passed towards Alessio Cassar whose cross from the right was met by Yannick Yankam who headed home.
Qormi pushed for more with a Lubos Adamec freekick well saved by Akpan. Coach Brian Spiteri made a second change with Iven Zammit for Gesualdi. Floriana eased the pressure with a Wleh header from a Vella freekick.
Twelve minutes from time Floriana almost sealed the match but the Qormi custodian made a stunning save off a point blank effort from substitute Clyde Borg. But three minutes from time Floriana were not to be denied as they sealed the issue with a third goal. It was a fast move between two Floriana substitutes, with Daniel Agius' run on the left finished with a Clyde Borg first timer that rocketed past a helpless Azzopardi.