Floriana win as mid-field battle intensifies

Floriana 2

Dingli 0

Floriana defeated Dingli 2-0 this afternoon as the battle for the Championship pool berths intensified.

Christian Caruana and Ryan Darmanin scored goals in each half to earn Zoran Popovic his first win as Floriana coach.

Dingli came close to an opener after eight minutes when Andre' Rocha Da Silva's free-kick came off the crossbar. On 18 minutes Christian Caruana, unmarked in the box headed in Victor Zlydarev's pass.

Floriana piled on the pressure after the break and on the hour mark, Ryan Darmanin picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and smashed a screamer beyond the despairing Farrugia and into the top corner of the net.

Floriana's Brian Said was sent off in the 56th minute.

Floriana are now level with Sliema in fifth place with Tarxien and Hamrun close behind.