Floriana stun toothless Hibs

Floriana 2
Anonam 18; Darmanin 62
Hibernians 1
Cohen 76 pen.

Floriana maintained their strong push towards Championship Pool football yesterday when they stunned leaders Hibernians by the odd goal in three.

Zoran Popovic's men put on another gallant display based on solid defending and deadly counter-attacks with their returning schemer Christian Caruana showing excellent vision and skill to inspire the Greens to victory.

It came as no surprise when Orosco Anonam put Floriana ahead early in the first half and from then on, there was never any doubt as to who would take the three points. Hibs' fightback never materialised. Despite seeing more of the ball, Hibs rarely threatened to get back into the match.

Instead, it was Floriana who struck again early in the second period with Hibs only managing a consolation goal through the returning Andrew Cohen.

Victory is a major boost for the Greens who have now joined Sliema Wanderers in second place on 12 points, one behind joint-leaders Hibs and Birkirkara. The latter face Sliema this afternoon.

Besides Caruana, Popovic also recalled striker Ryan Darmanin ahead of Montenegro forward Aleksandr Madzar who was among the substitutes.

Mark Miller, the Hibs coach, was boosted by the return of Cohen who recovered from a groin injury with Edward Herrera and Jonathan Caruana also declared fit to start. Defender Adrian Pulis was ruled out by a hamstring injury and was replaced by Timmy Fleri Soler.

Prior to kick-off, a minute's silence was observed in memory of MP Dr Karl Chircop who passed away last week.

Floriana hit the ground running and, after five minutes, they came agonisingly close to an opener. The Hibs defence failed to deal with an Anonam cross, the ball fell into the path of Caruana whose half-volley was somehow kept out by Mario Muscat with the aid of the upright.

Two minutes later, Hibs responded when Terrence Scerri's shot was blocked by Julian Briffa with the ball rolling towards Cohen who immediately served Jean Paul Farrugia. The promising Hibs forward looked odds-on to score but was somehow blocked by the Floriana defenders.

Floriana forced a breakthrough on 18 minutes when Darmanin evaded his marker on the right before sending a teasing cross towards Anonam who had little difficulty stabbing the ball past Muscat.

After this setback, Hibs tried to get back into the reckoning and started to enjoy more possession with Floriana content to soak up the pressure while trying to hit on the break.

On 27 minutes, Caruana picked Darmanin in the area but the lanky forward miscued his shot.

Just past the half hour, Muscat was forced to effect a reflex save to keep out Caruana's angled shot.

There was little goalmouth action for much of the remainder of the first half as Hibs struggled to produce any decent fare while Floriana easily administered their lead.

At the restart, Miller looked to add some steel to his engine room when he withdrew the ineffective Christian Callejas and roped in youngster Elkien Cauchi.

On 52 minutes, Herrera advanced on the right before crossing the ball towards Scerri who headed the ball just over.

Floriana replied two minutes later when a Clyde Camoin free-kick was turned away for a corner by Muscat.

The Greens doubled their lead on 62 minutes when Pablo Doffo, yesterday facing his former team-mates, chipped the ball towards Darmanin who unleashed a powerful first-time shot that gave Muscat no chance.

Hibs were shell-shocked but 14 minutes from time, they were handed a lifeline when Scerri's run into the area was blocked illegally by the onrushing Dejan Maksic. Referee Adrian Azzopardi pointed to the spot and Cohen sent Maksic the wrong way to halve the deficit.

Boosted by this goal, the Paolites launched a late rally with Scerri hitting just wide from a good position a minute from time. In the dying stages, Floriana's Briffa almost committed an own goal, heading the ball just past the upright in trying to clear a cross by Mbongo.

Floriana
D. Maksic-6, S. Eboh-6.5, J. Briffa-6.5, D. Pisani-6, C. Camoin-6.5, P. Doffo-6.5, L. Agius-6.5 ('87 M. Briffa), J. Borg-6 ('66 M. Gauci-6), O. Anonam-6.5, C. Caruana-7.5 ('79 D. Zarb), R. Darmanin-6.5.

Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, E. Herrera-5, T. Fleri Soler-4, J. Caruana-5, J. Pearson-5 ('87 L. Grech), C. Callejas-5.5 ('46 E. Cauchi-5), A. Mbongo-6, A. Cohen-5.5, C. Failla-5, T. Scerri-5, J.P. Farrugia-5 ('69 T. Caruana-5).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Pearson; Agius; Camoin.

BoV Player of the match: Christian Caruana (Floriana).