RABAT AJAX-1, FLORIANA-2
Floriana extended their winning run to six consecutive matches after edging past Rabat Ajax 2-1 in today's opening match at the Hibs Stadium.
The Greens looked to have made sure of victory after taking a 2-0 half-time lead but Rabat, who are fighting to avoid relegation, staged a late rally after pulling one back 20 minutes from time.
With this win, Floriana, who have long ensured safety, remain top of the Relegation Pool with 34 points while Rabat are third from bottom but could be leapfrogged by Hamrun Spartans if these beat Qormi in the second match.
The game was less than 30 seconds old when Trevor Cilia hit a shot that was saved by Jonathan Azzopardi, the Rabat goalkeeper.
Floriana should have taken the lead on six minutes when Igor Coronado slipped a through-ball to Steve Pisani in the box but the latter's grounder was wide.
Rabat had a golden chance to open the scoring on 11 minutes when Diego Carrillo Pendas released Jose Luis Amario Negrin whose mishit attempt was stopped by Tony Warner, the Floriana goalkeeper.
Warner was prominent again when coming off his line to head the ball away from the advancing Carrillo Pendas but, on 28 minutes Floriana went ahead.
Gary Roberts got on the end of Coronado's corner before sending a glancing header past Azzopardi.
Rabat wastewd a great chance to level when Carrillo Pendas ran across the penalty box before sending in a cross that eluded the unmarked Negrin.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Floriana increased their advantage. They were given a penalty after Joseph Caruana brought down Cilia inside the box and Roberts made no mistake from the spot.
Four minutes into the second half, Rabat might have narrowed the deficit when Negrin came face to face with Warner but the Floriana goalkeeper repelled the effort from the Rabat striker.
Seven minutes into the second half, referee Trustin Farrugia Cann showed a straight red card to Floriana striker Pisani and Felice, of Rabat, for an off-the-ball incident.
After a period of tepid football, Rabat pulled one back 20 minutes from time, Negrin hitting home from close range after substitute Patrick Borg had headed Carrillo Pendas's cross into the Spaniard's path.
Coronado was wide from outside the box.
With seven minutes remaining, Rabat protested for a penalty when Clifford Gauci's shot was blocked by the diving Carl Tremarco but the referee saw nothing wrong.
Negrin, the Rabat striker, was named BOV player of the match.