FLORIANA-   1

MOSTA-         2

Floriana: T. Warner, K. Farrugia, C. Tremarco, O. Bugeja,  T. Cilia,  I. Coronado, D. Pisani, J. Borg, B. Farrugia (F. Gusman), C. Borg, S. Borg

Mosta: J. Haber, A. Cini (D. Bogdanovic), M. Micallef, S. Chiemeka, C. Campagnoli, R. Grech, D. Mitev, O. Obiefule, F. Apap, B. Agius, G. Sammut

Referee:  M. Apap

Asst.refs:  P. Apap, M. Debono

4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: S. Chiemeka 54, I. Coronado 80, D. Bogdanovic 86

Yellow cards: F. Apap, C. Borg, S. Borg

Player of the match: D. Mitev (Mosta)

TMI top 3:  1. C. Borg  2. R. Grech  3. C. Tramarco

Floriana’s six-match unbeaten streak came to an end yesterday as they succumbed to defeat courtesy of Mosta substitute Daniel Bogdanovic’s  late goal.

Floriana were on track for a late challenge into the Championship Pool but yesterday’s defeat sees them in eighth place, seven points adrift of Tarxien Rainbows in sixth.

All the goals and better actions  came in the second half which eclipsed a tedious first, although the match never reached high standards. Mosta’s opening goal early in the second half interrupted Floriana’s momentum at a time when the Greens looked more likely to score. Floriana shrugged off that setback and deservingly drew level ten minutes from time but were unable to hold to a point when foiled by Mosta’s late winner.

Amid many transfe speculations, Floriana dropped four regulars from their starting line-up, Celestino, Alhinho, Paris and Tyrone Farrugia, who all failed to feature in the squad. They were replaced by Carl Tremarco, Joseph and Clyde Borg as well as Brooke Farrugia.

Thanks to the industry of Clyde Borg, Duncan Pisani and Carl Tremarco in midfield, they looked slightly the better team in a tedious first half, bereft of any excitement and few goal scoring opportunities.  Mosta also had their selection problems. Their striking force was dented in the absence of the still injured Aboulezz and with Bogdanovic only playing in the second half. Obiefule, was starved of service and it was his personal initiative that brought Mosta’s only chance of the first half. After 11 minutes, Obiefule went  past Floriana defenders Brooke Farrugia and Sascha Borg througth the middle but was foiled by the grounded keeper Warner.

Keeper Haber, most probably in his last appearance for Mosta, was called to effect the first difficult save past the half hour, tipping Clyde Borg’s drilling shot over the bar into a corner. Floriana again went close to break the deadlock shortly before halftime. Cilia ran down the right on Brook Farrugia’s pass but his shot was well saved by Haber. Then again, Cilia shot off target when well served by Coronado.

Floriana were again the first to threaten soon after the restart. Tremarco threaded an invitring pass to the unmarked Clyde Borg whose shot from inside the area rebounded off the underside of the bar.

The goal came on the other end though on 54 minutes. On a long Mitev free kick from the middle, Steve Chiemeka hit the ball clumsily as he got the better of the Floriana defence, just enough to beat keeper Warner.

Mosta almost doubled their lead a minute later but Obiefule’s flick on a Bogdanovic corner was blcoked into another corner.

To their credit, Floriana were not demoralised. On 68 minutes Sascha Borg played a long ball to the advancing Pisani who failed to conclude when inside the Mosta area.

Three minutes later, on a Pisani low cross, Joseph Borg’s effort was blocked by keeper Haber. Coronado’s second effort on the loose ball was also blocked.

That heralded Floriana’s best patch and after Luca Casha replaced Cilia in attack, Igor Coronado took the ball in his stride on the left and cut towards the middle to unleash an exquisite curling shot at the top corner to Haber’s left.

It was more than Floriana deserved and with ten minutes remaining, the Greens looked capable of holding to a precious point.

But their hopes were shattered only six minutes later when Micallef played a long ball inside the Floriana area and Daniel Bogdanovic rose high to beat Warner with a glancing header.

For all their efforts, Floriana had nothing to show at the end.