Floriana: S. Agius, M. Micallef, Z. Levniac, D. Krsteski, C. Ciantar (J. Briffa), T. Cilia (D. Pisani), C. Cassar, M. Brincat, Y. Bolasie, C. Caruana (J. Micallef), R. Darmanin

Senglea A: G. Attard, A. Ewurun, M. Tanti, D. Grech (C. Caruana), D. Cosaitis, C. Cuschieri, D. Okonkwo, K. Mifsud, E. Azzopardi, S. Aquilina, G. Bonello (J. Farrugia)

Referee: P. Caruana asst.refs: K. Borg, M. Debono 4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: A. Ewurun, C. Caruana, M. Tanti, Y. Bolasie, C. Cassar

Yellow cards: D. Krsteski, K. Mifsud, E. Azzopardi, Z. Levniac, D. Grech, C. Cuschieri, D. Okonkwo, C. Cassar

Red cards: D. Krsteski, S. Agius, K. Mifsud

Senglea Athletic were on the brink of causing the biggest upset of this second round of the U*Bet FA Trophy, after already knocking out other Premier side Msida SJ in the previous round. Yesterday they were leading nine-man Floriana 2-1 till the 90th minute, only to be caught out by the Greens’ late equaliser an then conceding Floriana’s winner in extra time, as they failed to exploit their numerical superiority.

This was a tempestuous tie, by far the most thrilling of the weekend, with eight bookings and four sending offs. Floriana’s Krsteski, keeper Agius and their assistant coach were all shown the red card, together with Senglea’s Mifsud.

Floriana were twice on the receiving end but valiantly summoned enough effort to draw level, forcing extra time and eventually winning the tie 3-2 with Christian Cassar’s winner to scrape to the next round despite an unconvincing performance.

As expected, Floriana started well but although enjoying the lion’s share of possession, they lacked the slightest hint of penetration when faced by an organised compact Senglea defence.

The Greens raked several crosses from both flanks inside their opponents’ area but desperately needed a poacher to finish the job. Cassar headed Micallef’s cross over the bar and then failed to connect on a Bolasie free kick from the left.

On 13 minutes Ciantar ended a good run inside the Senglea area with a pass to Cilia who completely missed the target.

Senglea needed a whole half hour to produce their first real threat and the Floriana keeper Agius was required to pull a spectacular reflex save to hold out Azzopardi’s drilling shot.

That was a warning to their lead ten minutes later. Tanti played the ball to Anthony Ewurun to volley past a helpless Agius and put Senglea in front.

Floriana were shell shocked and suffered another setback two minutes from halftime when their central defender Krsteski earned a second booking, after elbowing Ewurun, and was rightly sent off.

Floriana’s task became laborious in the second half as Senglea opted to keep possession, denying their opponents any comfort on the ball. Floriana retreated Levniac and Brincat in defence, depleting their midfield. Scoring chances remained at a premium but Floriana kept showing perseverance and were rewarded on 67 minutes. Bolasie started the movement of Floriana’s equaliser, Darmanin providing the final pass to Christian Caruana to beat keeper Attard with a low diagonal drive from edge of area.

Immediately after, Darmanin spurned another chance, hoisting the ball when in front of goal and on 76 minutes Micallef’s header on Brincat’s corner, was tipped over the bar by Attard.

Ten minutes from time, Floriana were down to nine men. Keeper Simon Agius also received his marching orders after handling Ewurun’s lob outside his area, referee Caruana deemed the Floriana keeper to have stopped a Senglea scoring opportunity, although not that obvious with two Floriana defenders inside the area.

From the ensuing free kick, Mark Tanti beat the still unsettled reserve keeper Micallef at the top left hand corner to give Senglea a fresh lead.

But Floriana kept going forward. On 84 minutes keeper Attard’s sprawling save kept Cassar’s free kick out only for the Greens to clinch a late dramatic equaliser on the stroke of normal time. Yola Bolasie picked a Senglea short clearance and shot low, leaving keeper Attard rooted to his line to force extra time.

The most two noteworthy episodes in extra time were Brincat’s direct free kick held out providentially by keeper Attard and Kevin Mifsud’s dismissal for a second bookable offence nine minutes into the first period. The dismissal of Floriana’s assistant coach Milos Basis from the bench also followed.

With both sides showing signs of exhaustion and the match heading for a penalty shoot-out, Floriana were awarded a free kick with four minutes remaining. Captain Christian Cassar planted the ball past a helpless Attard, who showed late reflexes.

Floriana finally scraped through as Senglea bowed out with their heads held high.