Floriana's second-half comeback stuns Dingli

Floriana 4
Said 53, Caruana 60, Darmanin 67, 83
Dingli Swallows 2
D. Zarb 15 , J. Okonkwo 35

Floriana produced a remarkable second-half comeback to wrap up the season with a victory as Dingli bid farewell to the Premier League with another defeat.

Strugglers Dingli had looked on course for their second victory in the relegation pool as they carved out a 2-0 half-time lead after they had outplayed their more-illustrious rivals in a superb first-half display.

But Floriana responded with three goals in 12 minutes early in the second period, Pablo Doffo starting the fightback before Ryan Darmanin took over in devastating fashion.

The match had an end-of-season feel, with nothing riding on the result and both sides looking to end a disappointing season with a win.

When Dingli Swallows broke the deadlock after 15 minutes it was the first shot on target of the match. Former Floriana player Dylan Zarb latched on to Roderick Spiteri's inch perfect through ball and slotted home from close-range.

Dingli goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia was able to take a back seat for much of the opening period but was briefly called into action to hold a low strike by Ryan Darmanin after 24 minutes.

Joseph Okonkwo, in possibly his last appearance for Dingli, was a constant threat on the right flank but Floriana skipper Orosco Anonam was on hand to nod a dangerous cross behind.

Buoyed by the goal, Dingli grabbed a second before the interval when Okonkwo struck the foot of the post before it rounded off the goalkeeper and over the Floriana line.

Floriana however finished the half strongly when Pablo Doffo shot over the crossbar from 25 metres out.

The Greens then came out firing after the interval, no doubt stirred by some strong words from coach Zoran Popovic.

They reduced the deficit almost immediately, Anonam nodding a right-wing cross by Doffo into the path of Brian Said who headed home through Farrugia's legs after 52 minutes.

Popovic's side began to play with a new sense of urgency and pressed forward with purpose for the first time in the match.

But given the fragility of the Swallows rearguard, they only had to wait eight minutes before they were level.

In fact, on the hour mark, Dingli paid the price for failing to deal with a Doffo cross, as Christian Caruana darted to the near post and headed the ball past Farrugia.

And the clinical turnaround was complete on 67 minutes when Doffo fed Ryan Darmanin as he applied a measured finish.

Floriana's response meant there was a feeling of how many more goals they would have scored against a deflated Dingli, but Jesmond Zammit's side responded bravely to the devastating spell.

Zarb had a shot nodded off the line by the alert Anonam a few minutes later.

But Darmanin had the chance to make the game safe as he made no mistake with another header when the ball fell to him again seven minutes later.

Floriana
J. Micallef- 5, O. Bugeja-5 ('46 S. Grima-5), B. Said-6, O. Anonam-6.5 , S. Borg- 6, P. Doffo-8, S. Lijeskic-5 ('53 M Ghebru-6), J. Borg-5, M. Spiteri-5 ('46 C. Ciantar-5), R. Darmanin-7, C. Caruana-6.

Dingli
J. Farrugia-5, R. Briffa-5, S. Tellus-5, R. Spiteri-6.5, K. Formosa-6 ('84 H. Doda), V. Fiteni-5, K. Borg-6 ('76 C. Sammut), M. Borg-5, E. Farrugia-6 ('64 D. Cachia-), J. Okonkwo-6.5, D. Zarb-6.5.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

BOV player of the match: Pablo Doffo (Floriana).