Vittoriosa S-Floriana 1-3

Vittoriosa S: M. Muscat, M. Camilleri, Samir Arab, L. Torri, G. Martin (C.Sammut), M. Pereira, C. Brincat, O. Guerrero, L. Vella Critien, F. Arriagada (M. Garcia), O. Sidibe

Floriana: D. Hanford, I. Edet, C. Caruana, I. Coronado, D. Pinheiro (R. Emeka), J. Xerri, C. Borg, J. Borg (A. Scicluna), B. Farrugia (I. Galea), G. Muir, S. Borg

Referee: M. Borg

Asst refs: M. Scerri, S. Attard

4th official: F. Zammit

Scorers: B. Farrugia 37, I. Coronado 44, G. Martin 52, R. Emeka 85

Yellow cards: O. Guerrero,  J. Borg,  M. Garcia, O. Sidibe, I. Galea

Player of the match: S. Arab (Vittoriosa S)

TMI top three:  1. S. Arab  2. C. Borg  3. G. Martin

Floriana registered their second win on the trot to top the Relegation Pool after passing a test of nerves as Vittoriosa fought back from two goals down to reduce the deficit and threaten for an equaliser in the second half.

The Stars thus remain embroiled in the relegation battle.

Each team made two changes in personnel – Floriana had Ibok Edet and Joseph Borg back from suspension but Steve Pisani was ineligible and Andre’ Scicluna was relegated to the bench.

Vittoriosa replaced Malcolm Buttigieg with Michael Camilleri and Arriagada was back instead of Felipe Aguiar.

The poor quality of play, combined with the sparse crowd present, created a subdued atmosphere. It was hardly lifted when Floriana took the lead after 37 minutes. There was little conviction in Brooke Farrugia’s cross shot from the right, with the ball dropping behind Vittoriosa keeper Muscat at the far post.

More  impressive was Floriana’s second, a minute short of halftime. Igor Coronado took the ball in his stride, advanced down the left and drilled his shot past keeper Muscat.

Vittoriosa reduced the arrears seven minutes into the second half. Arab set Gilbert Martin from midfield. He beat the Floriana offside trap to shoot past keeper Hanford.

Three minutes later, Guerrero squandered a clear opportunity as he missed the target in front of goal after Pereira’s shot had rebounded at his feet. Substitute Garcia skied the ball on Martin’s cross as Vittoriosa tried to rally. On 75 minutes keeper Hanford stretched himself to save Garcia’s grounder

But the Greens scored again five minutes from the end. Keeper Muscat could only parry Muir’s free kick and substitute Ronald Emeka picked up the loose ball to make the points safe.