Hibernians: M. Muscat, K. Cassar (B. Camilleri), K. Spiteri (A. Pulis), J. Caruana, M. Bartolo, C. Failla, E. Agius (N. Chukunyere), U. Nwoko, A. Cohen, R. Scerri, P. Doffo

Floriana: M. Camilleri, D. Pisani, M. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, R. Gango Rtsa, M. Micallef, C. Cassar (A. Buhagiar), A. Mifsud (C. Caruana), T. Cilia, K. Formosa, W. Gomes (R. Newell)

Referee: M. Borg Asst. refs: P. Agius, P. Apap 4th official: A. Zammit

Scorers: T.Scerri, I. Azzopardi, A. Mifsud

Yellow cards: P. Doffo, M. Micallef, M. Camilleri, I. Azzopardi, U. Nwoko

Red cards: M. Micallef, C. Failla

Player of the match: Wendell Gomes (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. I. Azzopardi 2. U. Nwoko 3. K. Formosa

Trailing by a goal and a man down by halftime, few might have imagined Floriana winning this stern test against Hibernians.

Yet, an early second half comeback enabled the Greens to score two goals in quick succession to turn the tables and inflict a second defeat on the Paolites this season, having beaten them 4-1 in the first round.

This win augurs well for Floriana's prospects in the second round as they now climb to fifth place in the standings.

This was a hard blow on Hibernians, as they suffered their third defeat in their last four outings, which saw an end to their brief revival.

Hibernians kept the same starting line-up with which they beat St George's in their last outing while Floriana were boosted by the return of Manolito Micallef, replacing Da Silva.

Hibernians made the breakthrough on 20 minutes after Floriana had made an explosive start and went close in the early stages with a Mifsud shot on the turn, held out by the outstretched keeper Muscat.

Terence Scerri beat keeper Camilleri from close range after Nwoko had done all the spadework on the left flank and chipped the ball intelligently in his path.

Earlier, Scerri had his diagonal shot saved by the Floriana keeper into a corner after more good work from the mobile Nwoko.

The goal sparked an immediate response from Floriana and a Cilia squeezed shot was deflected into a corner after making his way inside the Hibernians area.

Micallef squandered a good chance on 38 minutes, taking too long to conclude inside the opponents' area, when served by Cassar, and the chance went to waste.

Five minutes later, Formosa hit a loose ball inside the area first time after a good run on the right, but the ball went just wide.

But Floriana suffered a setback one minute from the break. Referee Borg was quick to caution Micallef, who fell blatantly inside the penalty area, for simulation and it being his second yellow card, was rightly dismissed amongst great frustration from the Floriana supporters.

Facing an uphill task, Floriana tried to regroup after the restart. And an amazing comeback saw them wipe out the deficit and take the lead within three minutes. On 55 minutes the Hibernians defence was caught flat on a through ball to Formosa, who played a square pass to the unmarked Ian Azzopardi to slide the ball past a helpless Muscat.

And three minutes later, Gomes sent in a deep cross from the left which Adrian Mifsud hooked and coolly beat keeper Muscat with a simple stab shot to make it 2-1.

Hibernians coach Gatt immediately summoned the services of Chukunyere and Pulis in search of an equaliser.

Past the hour Nwoko had another close shave effort going tantalisingly wide.

But Hibernians struggled to make their numerical superiority count in the face of a defensive Floriana set-up.

In fact the Paolites were nearly caught by Floriana's fast breaks as they threw everything in a late surge. On 80 minutes substitute Buhagiar darted inside the Hibernians' area, his shot was repelled by Muscat but Cilia failed to put the loose ball on target.

Hibernians' disappointment grew more bitter when two minutes from normal time, Failla's late tackle on Cilia, who was galloping upfield, led to his dismissal.

In added time, Hibernians went closest through Cohen who shot Chukunyere's low cross wide and thus Floriana could savour a very important win.