Floriana 1
Tremarco 42;
Qormi 0
Undeterred by the news of the MFA’s decision to dock them two points for financial reasons, Floriana ended their season a top note after beating Qormi for their eighth consecutive win.
Both teams had long secured their place in the elite division but their final meeting yesterday was something of a decider for the platonic honour of finishing top of the Relegation Pool.
There was little between the two teams but Floriana produced the more coherent stuff to maintain their late-season flourish and give departing coach Iain Brunskill a perfect send-off.
Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa picked a strong team. Defender Roderick Sammut returned from a ban but midfielder Luke Sciberras was suspended.
Brunskill also named a strong line-up with goalkeeper Tony Warner and striker Steve Pisani, who missed the 3-1 win over Ħamrun because of suspension, earning a recall to the first team.
Just before the game, Floriana announced that they have reached agreement with Nigeria U-23 defender Emmanuel Edet Ibok to join them for next season.
Barely two minutes from Dutch referee Ed Janssen’s initial whistle had elapsed when Floriana threatened to seize the lead.
Hesitant defending by Qormi allowed Pisani through but the Floriana forward was denied by Steve Sultana, the Qormi goalkeeper. The loose ball fell to Igor Coronado but his shot was also pushed away by the alert Sultana.
On 18 minutes, Warner turned Kris Thackray’s free-kick around the post but creative football was scarce.
Qormi had the ball in the net on 21 minutes when Joseph Chetcuti chested Avila Perez’s cross into the net but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Sultana again made himself big as he dived at the feet of Carl Tremarco after Qormi had failed to clear a cross by Coronado.
As the minutes rolled by, Qormi began to show themselves more often in Floriana’s half but it was the Greens who came close to taking the lead. Trevor Cilia veered into the box from the right but his grounder was kept out by Sultana.
Floriana put their noses in front three minutes from half-time. Coronado’s right-wing corner was headed on by Pisani and Tremarco poked the ball home at the far post.
On 48 minutes, Qormi threatened to equalise as Jonathan Bondin surged into the box after exchanging passes with Avila Perez but Warner blocked the shot by the former Valletta midfielder.
A good overlap by Matthew Gauci on the left ended with the Qormi left-back whipping in an inviting cross that was deflected towards Edison Zarate whose drive was too central to trouble Warner.
A goal down, Qormi upped their efforts, Alfred Effiong firing over after a fine run before Warner saved from Avila Perez who had been sent through by the improving Zarate.
At the other end, Sultana pulled off another smart save to beat away Pisani’s long-range strike.
The game remained balanced as both teams sought to push forward when in possession. The unflappable Tremarco threw his body in the way of Effiong’s shot midway into the second half.
Floriana should have killed the game five minutes from time when Coronado released substitute Luca Casha but the young forward skied his shot.
Floriana
T. Warner-7, O. Bugeja-6.5, G. Roberts-6.5, C. Tremarco-7.5, K. Farrugia-6.5, J. Borg-6.5, C. Borg-7, S. Borg-6 (55 L. Casha-6), T. Cilia-6 (71 B. Farrugia-6), I. Coronado-7, S. Pisani-7.
Qormi
S. Sultana-7, K. Thackray-6, R. Sammut-6, A. Effiong-5.5, J. Chetcuti-5 (74 M. Bartolo), M. Avila Perez-5, M. Gauci-6, E. Bilbao Zarate-6, D. Pisani-5, J. Bondin-6, C. Cassar-5 (74 T. Caruana).
Referee: Ed Janssen (Netherlands).
Yellow cards: Thackray; J. Borg.
BOV Player of the match: Igor Coronado (Floriana).