Floriana                         2
Valletta                          0

Floriana  FC :  I. Akpan, E. Ruiz, C. Borg, K. Keqi, B. Paiber (G. Galesic 76'), J. Pisani (E. Herrera 66'), T. Galvao da Silva (T. Vella 81'), A. Cini, J. Arias Ulises, A. Oyama, E. Marcelina

Valletta  FC: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Malano, E. Pena Beltre, J. Zerafa, I. Saleh (J. Borg 81'), M. Alba, B. Gavrila (K. Nwoko  58'), B. Kaljevic, M. Fontanella

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Asst refs: Duncan Sultana, Paul Apap

4th official: Trustin Farrugia Cann

Scorers:  B. Paiber 41', K. Keqi 89'

Yellow cards: Borg, Marcelina, Keqi, Alba

Player of the match: Enzo Ruiz (Floriana)

TMI Top 3: 1.  A. Oyama        2. E. Ruiz           3.    E. Marcelina

Atttendance: 3,674

Floriana won the much awaited derby against neighbours Valletta to the delight of their supporters who dented Valletta's hopes of regaining the crown. This win put the Greens in a much healthier position.

Floriana had won only two matches from their previous eight encounters with the team languishing in the bottom half of the table. An unusual position for the Greens but a realistic one.

Valletta went into this match on a run of three consecutive wins against Balzan, Pieta and Mosta. A win would have put the Citizens four points clear at the top since their main challengers Hibernians have faltered losing ground against the likes of Hamrun, Sliema and Mosta. In fact three consecutives draw by Hibernians gave Valletta that added boost.

But it was not to be and this result has now opened the League wide open.

In the first round match the derby went Valletta's way with the Champions winning the match by a solitary goal.

In the fifteenth minute Valletta went near when Malano perfectly set Fontanella but after rounding the Floriana goalkeeper shot against the side rigging.

In the 29^th minute the Greens responded when Arias out ran Pena Beltre with his cross being cleared to safety by Zerafa being causing more havoc.

Though Valletta had territorial advantage Floriana were an organized side. And four minutes from the end of the half they drew first blood.  They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area with Brandon Paiber having a perfect execution beating Bonello all ends up.

The second half started with Floriana adapting a rather prudent approach and operating on the counter.

Just off the hour Akpan produced a point blank save to deny Valletta an equalizer. Off a cross from the right flank by Pene Beltre it was Cini who headed in the box, with Ruiz in an attempt to clear, heading the ball goalwards with Akpan stretching to save.

In the 64^th minute Valletta went near once again. Alba sent a deep cross from the right and defender Ruiz was there to clear before Nwoko could connect.   Three minutes later a Pena Beltre cross was met by Malano but he addressed his headed effort just wide.

Valletta now threw everything on the offensive. On 71 minutes an Alba corner was headed off the mark by Borg.

Floriana replied on the counter when in the 73^rd minute Keqi set the onrushing Oyama but he failed to sent a decent shot on goal.

Ten minutes from the end of the match Fontanella found Nwoko whose weak shot was saved by Akpan.

Valletta had a glorious chance to draw level in the 87^th minute. An Alba free kick was headed towards Malano who played back in Caruana's path, the latters shot being cleared off the line by Oyama.

Seconds later Pena Beltre had his fierce shot saved by an alert Akpan.

But it was Floriana who sealed the issue in the 90^th minute. Herrera played a perfect through ball towards Kristian Keqi who after dummying Borg fired a perfect shot past a helpless Bonello. It was celebration time for the Greens.