Floriana-Santa Lucia 2-1
Floriana: I.E. Akpan, E. Ruiz, D. Venanzio, K. Keqi (A. Caseres 70'), J. Arias Ulises (E. Herrera 82'), B. Paiber (B. Sciberras 77'), J. Pisani, M. Garcia, A. Cini, R. Camenzuli, T. Fonseca.
Santa Lucia: R. Caruana, G. Bohrer, D. Mendoza, D. Segura, K. Ante Rosero, J. Walker (A. Magri Overend 80'), F. Zuniga, J. Zerafa, C. Escobar, L. Galea (O. Elouni 70'), R. Tachikawa (D. Agius 70').
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Ass. Referees: Duncan Sultana, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Etienne Mangion
Scorers: D. Venancio 55', T. Fonseca 58', A. Magri Overend 92'
Yellow cards: D. Venancio 10', R. Tachikawa 16', B. Paiber 21', T. Fonseca 30', C. Escobar 45', R. Camenzuli 90', D. Segura 90'
Player of the match: Tiago Fonseca (Floriana)
TMI Best Three: 1. Tiago Fonseca, 2. K. Ante Rosero, 3. M. Garcia
After two successive draws, league leaders Floriana returned to winning ways beating lowly Santa Lucia in a balanced and keenly contested match. Two gems in the opening stages of the second half tilted the balance completely in the Greens' favour.
However, it must be said that it was no easy stroll for the league leaders who struggled especially in the first half. Even their defence, the best so far in the Premier League, showed some signs of weakness, but the Santa Lucia forwards failed to capitalise.
The Greens had a good opening ten minutes but then fizzled away in the first half with Santa Lucia showing better ideas. Needless to say, the two great goals scored in the space of three minutes completely tilted the balance of the match.
Floriana from then onwards were in full command with Santa Lucia practically on their knees, lacking ideas and the necessary punch to worry the Greens' rearguard. The consolation goal came too late for Santa Lucia, just seconds before the final whistle.
Floriana immediately took control of the midfield sector playing constantly in their opponents' half. However, Santa Lucia created the first real danger with Tachikawa's central drive blocked by Akpan.
On ten minutes an Ante Rosero freekick from an ideal position went slightly over the bar. Santa Lucia were now finding more space and venturing forward and Akpan was again called in action to block a Mendoza effort.
Halfway through the first half Fonseca made his way on the right flank and his effort beat the onrushing goalkeeper but his shot was too weak and was cleared away by the Santa Lucia defence. Minutes later a Paiber scorcher was somehow blocked by the alert Caruana.
In the dying stages of the first half, a melee ensued in the Floriana area with the final shot by Zuniga blocked by the Greens' defence.
Three minutes into the second half Floriana created their best chance when Garcia was put through by Alex Cini and his shot slammed against the crossbar. Floriana took the lead on 55 minutes when Diego Venancio scored a great goal direct from a freekick.
Three minutes later the Greens doubled the score with another great goal this time scored by Thiago Fonseca whose curling shot from well outside the area finished in the top corner of the net.
With Floriana home and dry and with Santa Lucia's effort always finishing against the solid Floriana wall, the match had little or nothing more to offer. Six minutes from time substitute Caseres tried to dribble past goalkeeper Caruana, but lost his balance and a good chance to score Floriana's third goal.
In the second and final minute of stoppage time, Santa Lucia scored a consolation goal when substitute Adam Magri Overend fired home from the edge of the area.