Second against third in the table, with one point seperating both teams before kick off, this was supposed to be a keenly contested match.

Instead it turned out to be a one-sided unfulfilling affair, with Floriana, inspired by the clinical finishing of Daniel Nwoke, running riot against a vulnerable Birkirkara defence, looking susceptible more than the usual. Nwoke ripped them apart and scored four goals inside 50 minutes to take his tally to 12 in the league this season. Floriana now move back to second place, albeit ten points adrift of leaders Valletta.

This was the second time that Birkirkara conceded five league goals this season and the final result aptly reflected their lack of conviction.

Yesterday they had Babatunde, Zerafa and Bajada only playing as second half substitutes, when the harm was already done.

Besides, they played the last half hour with ten men after Andrei Agius was sent off for two bookings.

Floriana had their work cut early as they were already three goals to the good by the half hour.

Eleven minutes was all it took for the Greens to convert their momentum into a lead. Birkirkara defender Vukanac headed the ball back to his keeper inside the area. Daniel Nwoke pounced on the short pass and stroked the ball low past the helpless keeper Bartolo.

Less than ten minutes later, Cassar played a long ball forward from half pitch. Nwoke beat the Birkirkara offside trap and flicked the ball past the onrushing keeper.

On the half hour, Birkirkara collapsed to concede the third goal. Caruana played a quick free kick to Woods who again picked Daniel Nwoke to beat the static Stripes defence and score a hat trick.

Birkirkara reacted on 36 minutes. Agius crossed for Lattes to head from close range. Keeper Saidi fisted out but Decesare lofted the loose ball.

On 39 minutes, Birkirkara were gifted a goal by keeper Saidi who dropped the ball on a deep Cilia cross from the right. It fell to the unmarked Michael Galea who concluded into an empty net.

And before the half was over, Saidi atoned for that mistake when Galea pounced on a Cilia low pass, turned and shot but the Floriana shot stopper held out with a superb reflex save.

Birkirkara put in Ibrahim Babatunde and Joseph Zerafa for the second half as Floriana put in Clyde Borg for El Yamani.

But Floriana hit them again on 50 minutes. For the fourth time, Daniel Nwoke capitalised on Birkirkara’s defensive lapse to beat the goalkeeper with a clever lob.

To rub salt into their wounds, Birkirkara also had Andrei Agius sent off on the hour, for a second booking when he fisted the ball in on a long cross.

With the points virtually secured, Floriana eased down, subconsciously at least. Birkirkara tried to make headways at last and had close efforts by Babatunde and Fenech. Lattes ran down the left, but Saidi stretched himself to hold out his low diagonal shot. Bajada’s late inclusion for Decesare was futile and the champions were further humiliated five minutes from the end with Floriana’s fifth goal, scored by Ivan Woods from a direct free kick from the edge of the area.

Birkirkara M. Bartolo, T. Cilia, P. Fenech, N. Vukanac (J. Zerafa), R. Scicluna (I. Babatunde), E. Lattes, R. Muscat, A. Agius, A. Decesare (S. Bajada), M. Galea, A. Buhagiar

Coach P. Zammit

Floriana L. Saidi, D. Pisani, T. Farrugia, T. Paris (S. Borg), M. Micallef, C. Cassar, C. Caruana, P. Doffo, M. El Yamani (C. Borg), I. Woods, D. Nwoke (J. Borg)

Coach M. Woods

Referee K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs M. Debono, E. Spiteri

4th official M. Apap

Scorers D. Nwoke 11, 20, 30, 50, M. Galea 39, I. Woods 85

Yellow cards A. Agius, D. Nwoke, M. Bartolo, T. Paris, P. Fenech

Red card A. Agius

Player of the match D. Nwoke (Floriana)

TMI top 3 1. D. Nwoke 2. C. Cassar 3. I. Woods