Rabat Ajax 1
Negrin 70
Floriana 2
Roberts 27, 45 pen
Having long secured their Premier League status, Floriana have nothing to play for bar pride but they seem to be on a mission to finish a rollercoaster season on a flying note.
The Greens maintained their late-season renaissance yesterday as they overcame relegation strugglers Rabat to make it six wins in a row and eight matches without defeat.
A game that saw two players, one on either side, sent off early in the second half, looked over as a contest at half-time as Floriana surged into a two-goal lead but Rabat stirred in the final stages.
For long periods, Rabat had struggled for fluency and showed Floriana too much respect.
With a decisive match against bottom side Melita looming, Rabat probably had one eye on their next fixture but, after reducing the arrears 20 minutes from time, they made a fist of it but the Greens held firm in the dying stages to cement their grip on top spot in the Relegation Pool.
The only change in Rabat’s team from the 3-1 defeat of Ħamrun saw Justin Felice replace Ivan Carapic.
The decision to rest the Montegrin defender necessitated a positional change as Joseph Caruana, outstanding against the Spartans, switched to centre-half.
Up front, Jose Luis Armario Negrin was the lone forward in Rabat’s 4-2-3-1 formation with fellow Spaniards Manuel Fuster and Diego Carrillo Pendas, and Malcolm Licari providing support from behind.
Floriana, for whom Thomas Paris came in for the injured Joseph Borg, stuck with 4-2-3-1, Brazilian Igor Coronado floating behind Steve Pisani, and Trevor Cilia and Udo Nwoko on the wings.
Less than 30 seconds from the start of the game had elapsed when Cilia fired a shot that was saved by Jonathan Azzopardi, the Rabat goalkeeper.
Floriana should have taken the lead on six minutes when Coronado supplied a through-ball to Pisani but the latter’s grounder rolled past the far post.
In their first attack, on 11 minutes, Rabat missed a glorious opportunity to put their noses in front when Carrillo Pendas advanced before releasing Negrin whose mishit attempt was blocked by Tony Warner, the Floriana goalkeeper.
A period of scrappy football ensued before Coronado, a subdued figure so far, controlled the ball outside the penalty area but his shot was off target.
Floriana’s Gary Roberts powered his free-kick over the bar after Caruana had felled Pisani but, two minutes short of the half-hour, the Englishman, yesterday deployed at right-back, struck.
Rabat failed to deal with Coronado’s right-wing corner and Roberts duly capitalised as his angled far-post header soared into the net.
The goal settled Floriana who established control of possession against a disjointed Rabat.
The Magpies spurned a great chance to level matters when Carrillo Pendas drifted across the penalty box before sending in a cross that eluded the unmarked Negrin.
Four minutes from half-time, Azzopardi fisted away a dangerous cross and, from the ensuing action, the Rabat goalkeeper pushed out Paris’s shot.
On the stroke of half-time, Floriana doubled their lead. They were awarded a penalty after Caruana hauled down Cilia in the box and Roberts drilled his shot past Azzopardi.
Rabat might have reduced the arrears four minutes into the second half when Negrin came face to face with Warner but the Floriana goalkeeper stood his ground.
Seven minutes into the second half, referee Trustin Farrugia Cann issued a straight red card to Floriana striker Pisani and Felice, of Rabat, after the two had traded insults.
This episode failed to enliven proceedings as the first 20 minutes of the second half produced little of note.
That changed on 70 minutes when Rabat dragged themselves back into the match.
Carrillo Pendas veered infield from the right and his cross was nodded into the six-yard box by substitute Patrick Borg and Negrin poked the ball past Warner.
Minutes later, Coronado rifled wide from outside the box and, 10 minutes from time, another effort from the Brazilian was charged down by Yan Cauchi.
Rabat built up a head of steam. They appealed for a penalty when Clifford Gauci’s shot was blocked by the diving Carl Tremarco.
In stoppage time, Coronado had the chance to kill the game but took a touch too many and his final shot was deflected away from goal.
Rabat Ajax: J. Azzopardi-6, J. Caruana-6, J. Felice, M. Licari-5 (62 P. Borg-6), J.L. Armario Negrin-6, M. Fuster-6, D. Falzon-5, D. Carrillo Pendas-6.5, Y. Cauchi-6, D. Azzopardi-5, C. Gauci-5.
Floriana: T. Warner-6.5, C. Tremarco-6.5, O. Bugeja-6.5, G. Roberts-7, K. Farrugia-6, T. Cilia-6 (68 M. Spiteri-6), T. Paris-6.5, C. Borg-6, U. Nwoko-5.5 (62 S. Borg-5.5), S. Pisani, I. Coronado-6.
Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards Caruana; Pisani; Tremarco; Bugeja; Roberts; Warner.
Red cards Pisani (F) 52; Felice (R) 52
BOV Player of the match Jose Luis Amario Negrin (Rabat).