FLORIANA 2
Sasere 35 pen.
Grech 90 pen.
HIBERNIANS 0
FLORIANA
C. Maffoumbi, O. El Hasni, J. Grech, Thiaguinho (46. Fernandinho), D. Vella, M. Garcia (85 Antiago), C. Zammit Lonardelli (90 O. Spiteri), F. Sasere (46 K. Nwoko), A. Kouro, G. Yameogo, E. De Souza (82 M. Veselji).
Hibernians
H. Sacco, Kleiton (65 A. Silas), K. Shaw (85 I. Chukunyere), A. Attard (73 L. Attard), Miullen, J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen, D. Xuereb (65 G. Bastianos), A. Bruno (74 F. Falcone), P. Henrique, H. Gabriel.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Yellow cards: Yameogo, Sacco, Henrique, Garcia.
Red card: Sacco (H) 90.
Floriana kept up the pressure on leaders Birkirkara as they scored a penalty in each half to see of Hibernians and move two points behind the Stripes in the 360 Sports Malta Premier standings.
It was another convincing performance from the Greens who held the edge throughout the match and inspired by the vision of Jake Grech and incisive running for Carlo Zammit Lonardelli they secured three important points that kept in the hunt to challenge for top spot at the end of the Opening Round.
Floriana took just over a minute to create their first scoring opportunity. They were awarded a free-kick, and Jake Grech’s delivery found Carlo Zammit Lonardelli who fired just over.
Zammit Lonardelli thought he had given Floriana the lead on seven minutes as the Malta wing back latched onto a Jake Grech’s pass inside the area and directed the ball past Hibernians goalkeeper Hugo Sacco.
However, Zammit Lonardelli’s joy was shortlived as the assistant referee raised his flag to signal an offside position and the goal was annulled.
Hibernians finally threatened on 13 minutes when Ayrton Attard sent a fine throughball from half pitch towards team-mate Miullen, who, however, was anticipated by goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi.
Five minutes later, Miullen turned provider when he picked Jurgen Degabriele inside the area but the Malta forward fluffed his shot and Floriana could clear.
Floriana had a second goal annulled for offside on 21 minutes when Zammit Lonardelli’s cross found Sasere who beat Sacco with a first-time effort. However, the Nigerian striker was in an offside position.
Hibernians suffered a blow on 33 minutes when goalkeeper hugo Sacco, in an attempt to intercept a cross, hit Franklin Sasere in the face, giving no option to referee Malcolm Spiteri to point to the spot.
The Nigerian forward picked himself up to make no mistake from the spot for his eighth goal of the season.
Hibernians almost hit back immediately but Jurgen Degabriele fired over from a central position.
On the restart, Floriana coach Darren Abdilla was forced to make two changes as Thiaguinho and Sasere pulled out injured and were replaced by Fernandinho and Kyrian Nwoko.
After the break, Hibernians tried to step up their break in a bid to put themselves back into the encounter.
However, it was Floriana who almost snatched a second goal just past the hour mark when Grech teed up Zammit Lonardelli on the edge of the area and his firm low drive was well blocked by Maffoumbi.
It was Floriana who went on to seal the points as a minute from time Sacco upended substitute Mattia Veselji inside the area.
The referee ordered a penalty and showed a second yellow card to Sacco who was dismissed.
With Hibernians having already effected all their five substitutions, Bjorn Kristensen took his place in goal but from the spot, Jake Grech kept his cool to fire home and seal his team’s win.
