A sensational recovery by Floriana in the second half yesterday sent Hamrun slipping closer to relegation.

Leading 2-0 at the interval, and certainly the team showing the better ideas, it never occurred to me that Hamrun would collapse in such a way in the second half.

It was a repeat of the first round match in January when Floriana had also emerged 4-2 winners after having been 0-2 in arrears.

The merit goes to the Greens who came out with great determination in the second half, scored an early goal and went on to secure three very important points.

The Spartans played their best football this season in the first half, but they simply had no reply to a completely transformed Floriana side in the second when Hamrun were unrecognisable.

Floriana were unlucky on the third minute when an Ian Azzopardi long distance lob hit the crossbar with Cordina beaten. Later the Hamrun goalie blocked Manolito Micallef’s effort on deck.

The Spartans gradually came into the picture and after Ryan Fenech had hit wide after being set by Sultana, they took the lead through a fine goal, veteran Sultana setting substitute Nwankwo who fired a fine first time rising shot past a helpless Simon Agius.

Floriana were shocked and Nwankwo was again the protagonist on 41 minutes when he luckily scored a second. Ryan Fenech’s effort hit the upright and the ball went on to hit the onrushing Nwankwo and finished at the back of the net. Floriana protested for an offside but the point was allowed to stand after the official, Chris Lautier, consulted his assistant Joe Camilleri.

Floriana got the tonic they needed on 51 minutes when Trevor Cilia scored with an angled shot off a pass from Formosa.

Five minutes later, it was Adrian Mifsud who headed over Cordina to equalise.

On 60 minutes, the Greens even took the lead when off a Cassar cross, Adrian Mifsud’s header was fumbled by Cordina and the ball finished at the back of the net.

After 64 minutes, Hamrun ended in 10 men when Magri Overend was shown a red card for a bad foul on Manolito Micallef.

It was 4-2 on the 71st minute as Cordina hesitated on a long ball and Adrian Mifsud concluded perfectly to the delight of the Greens fans.

Later Ryan Darmanin twice had good chances. First his shot was saved by Cordina. Then off an Oba cross, his header went just over.

At the end, Floriana’s joy knew no bounds as they have moved far from relegation after this win.

* * *

Hamrun S.: J. Cordina, P. Ndubisi, J. Magri Overend, J. Francica, S. Sultana (D. Cucciardi), K. Borg, M. Okoro (G. Spiteri), A. Attard, R. Fenech, J. Debattista, S. Sadowski (C. Nwankwo).

Floriana: S. Agius, R. Gango Rtsa, M. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, J. Briffa (R. Oba), C. Ciantar (R. Darmanin), K. Formosa, T. Cilia, M. Micallef, C. Cassar, A. Mifsud (J. Borg).

Referee: C. Lautier. Asst refs: K. Borg, J. Camilleri; 4th official: P. Caruana.

Scorers: C. Nwankwo 2, T. Cilia, A. Mifsud 2,

Yellow cards: I. Azzopardi, M. Okoro, G. Spiteri, D. Cucciardi

Red card: J. Magri Overend,

BOV player of the match: A. Mifsud

TMI top 3: 1. A. Mifsud, 2. I. Azzopardi, 3. C. Nwankwo