Floriana-St Patrick 2-1

Floriana: R. Gauci, I. Azzopardi, C. Ciantar, K. Formosa, J. C. Schembri, M. Caruana, T. Cilia, C. Cassar, M. Micallef, E. Do Nascimento (R. Darmanin), N. Baldacchino (G. Bencini).

St Patrick: A. Camilleri, R. Cassar, A. Buttigieg, M. Fleri Soler, C. Failla, G. Failla (C. Micallef), T. Caruana, B. Fenech, S. Costa Brazilino, P. Chizoba Anizoba, C. Dozie.

Referee: A. Azzopardi; Asst. Refs: K. Borg, A. Arciola; 4th official: R. Buontempo.

Scorers: B. Fenech, N. Baldacchino 2,

Yellow cards: Chizoba Anizoba, G. Failla,

Red card: Chizoba Anizoba.

Player of the match: N. Baldacchino.

TMI Top 3: 1. N. Baldacchino; 2. R. Cassar; 3. A. Camilleri.

Nicolo Baldacchino proved to be Floriana’s saviour yesterday, first scoring an equaliser and then a late winner to beat bottom placed St Patrick by the odd goal in three.

The victory enabled Floriana to overtake Hibernians once again in the standings and they are now back in fourth place. But Hibs have today’s match against Birkirkara in hand.

Floriana were playing with the injured Ian Ciantar, Gango Rtsa, Steven Wellman and Da Silva.

The first half provided little entertainment. The first notable action arrived on 30 minutes, when Do Nascimento provided Manolito Micallef with a good pass but goalie Camilleri rushed out of his charge to anticipate the Floriana striker.

On the 39th minute, St Patrick replied with a shot from Thomas Caruana which was tipped to corner by Gauci. From the resultant corner, taken by Caruana, the unmarked Benoit Fenech planted the ball home.

At the other end, immediately afterwards, Floriana were unlucky not to equalise when a Manolito Micallef shot hit the upright. In added injury time, from a Buttigieg cross, Dozie saw his header hitting the upright with Gauci beaten.

Floriana were again unlucky on 47 minutes when off a Cilia cross, Baldacchino saw his effort hitting the upright.

Soon after, the Greens should have equalised when they were awarded a penalty for a Robert Cassar foul on Manolito Micallef. But Bizu do Nascimento’s very hard shot was punched out by Camilleri.

On 55 minutes, a long defensive clearance by Floriana was missed by Buttigieg and Nicolo Baldacchino quickly lobbed over Camilleri for the equaliser.

On 75 minutes, Baldacchino received from Ciantar but lifted over the bar when well placed.

Five minutes later, Caruana missed the chance of his life hitting wide from an ideal position off a Chizoba Anizoba good pass.

With three minutes to go, a Cilia cross was flicked just wide of the post by Fenech – a near own goal. Soon after off a cross from the left, the ball was headed towards Baldacchino who controlled it and hit home past a helpless Camilleri.

St Patrick finished the end in 10 men as Chizoba Anizoba was shown a red card for a vicious foul on Micallef.