Floriana 1

Mqabba 0

Floriana: M. Bartolo, M. Micallef, D. Pisani, P. Doffo, O. Bugeja, J. Borg, C. Cassar, C. Caruana (J. Mintoff), A. Grabowski (T. Paris), I. Woods, L. Pessanha (R. Darmanin)

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Potezika, B. Timotic, D. Azzopardi (S. Magro), M. Briffa, T. Mazzitelli, C. Calleja, M. Bonnici, R. Sammut, C. Micallef, B. Mamic

Referee: M. Borg

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: R. Darmanin 89

Yellow cards: R. Sammut, A. Grabowski, S. Magro, J. Borg, M. Bartolo

Player of the match: Christian Cassar (Floriana)

TMI top 3: 1. C. Cassar 2. B. Timotic 3. A. Grabowski

For the third consecutive time, Floriana struck late to take the points from their opponents in crucial moments. Against Mqabba yesterday and with the match still goalless, Ryan Darmanin, who had gone in as a substitute towards the hour, scored the Greens’ winner on the stroke of full time to deny Mqabba a draw and vindicate his critics.

Darmanin’s explosive joy after the goal demonstrated all his frustration for getting too little playing time with his club this season.

Darmanin could have scored earlier but was denied by the woodwork.

Both sides were practically at full strength although they went into this match with contrasting fortunes. Floriana had beaten Mosta with a remarkable comeback while Mqabba’s late rally was not enough to avoid defeat against Hamrun Spartans.

But Mqabba are always tough opponents and not easy for any side to break down.

Floriana experienced this yesterday as they lacked the required inventive to breach Mqabba’s solid and organised defence during the first 45 minutes.

Floriana’s attacks carried more threat. In the opening minutes, Grabowski chested the ball well on the edge of the area but shot feebly in the keeper’s safe hands.

On 21 minutes Pessanha’s cross from the right was cleared into the path of Grabowski who lacked co-ordination with his shot. And towards the half hour, Doffo whipped a direct free kick straight on keeper Calleja. But on 33 minutes Christian Caruana limped off and was forced to be substituted by John Mintoff, with Grabowski shofting wide on the left.

Mqabba rarely ventured inside enemy territory and had to rely on efforts from a distance. Mazzitelli shot narrowly wide and a Calleja long range drive was smartly saved by Floriana keeper Bartolo.

Floriana showed more urgency after the interval although Mqabba put in Shawn Magro for Azzopardi to give some added impetus to their attack.

Keeper Calleja had to stretch himself to turn Cassar’s meaty free kick into a corner.

On 54 minutes, Woods ran through and tried to lob the ball over the onrushing keeper but Timotic was well placed to head away before it crossed the line.

Mqabba threatened with a Magro cross from the right. Mamic failed to put his head to the ball and then Briffa mishit horrendously in front of goal. Magro headed tamely Mamic’s cross before another venomous Cassar free kick was tipped over the bar into a corner by keeper Calleja as Floriana started to mount some belated sustained pressure.

Ten minutes from time, Floriana could have broken the deadlock when Darmanin’s thunderous shot rebounded off the upright. His effort deserved a better fate.

Having survived that scare, Mqabba went close with a Mamic shot, blocked by keeper Bartolo, on a Mazzitelli through pass.

As the minutes ticked away, Mintoff’s incursion inside the Mqabba area was halted by Timotic.

The match looked heading for a draw when, with one minute of normal time remaining, Mqabba failed to clear Cassar’s low cross and Ryan Darmanin steaded himself, turned and shot low past helpless keeper Calleja to give Floriana the points and break Mqabba’s hearts.