Floriana 2
Emeka 25; Muir 61 pen;
Qormi 2
Cantoro 45 pen; Effiong 64 pen;

The first phase of the BOV Premier League came to an end with an explosive encounter between Qormi and Floriana, a match that produced four goals, three penalties and two red cards.

Both teams came into the match determined to end their winning drought. After a quiet first half, the match burst into life with Floriana and Qormi throwing caution to the wind.

However, it was referee Sandro Spiteri who stole the attention with a series of bold but controversial decisions.

Spiteri ordered three penalties and dismissed a player from each side, Qormi’s Giorgio Gianola and Floriana’s Ibok Edet, much to the chagrin of both teams.

In the end, the two sides had to settle for a point which means that Floriana will start the Relegation Pool campaign in second place on 11 points, three behind Naxxar Lions, while Qormi, second from bottom, are level with Tarxien on eight points.

Floriana coach Ian Dawes was boosted by the return of attacking duo Christian Caruana and Steve Pisani who missed the 4-1 defeat to Sliema Wanderers.

Caruana was restored to the starting formation at the expense of Luca Casha but Pisani was on the bench. He came on late in the game.

Nigerian striker Roland Emeka was handed his first start for the Greens as he was preferred to Brazilian forward Diogo while Joseph Borg was back in the initial XI to fill the void left by Andre Scicluna who was not included in the 18-man squad.

Karel Zeman, the Qormi coach, had two first-team players returning from suspension as Triston Caruana and Owen Bugeja were included in the starting line-up at the expense of Leighton Grech and Duncan Pisani.

Brazilian striker Jorginho was back in the 18-man squad after recovering from a long-term knee injury.

It was Qormi who threatened first after 10 minutes when Simone Quintieri showed great vision to release Lucas Cantoro with a delightful through-ball but the Argentine striker’s angled drive was brilliantly tipped away by Daniel Hanford, the Floriana goalkeeper.

The Greens gradually came more into the picture and, on 23 minutes, Igor Coronado raced past three Qormi defenders only to be upended on the edge of the area. From the resultant free-kick, Gary Muir saw his curling drive just missing the upright.

It was Floriana who drew first blood on 25 minutes when Muir’s through-ball eluded the Qormi defence and Emeka sped into the area and turned past goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia before depositing the ball into an empty net.

Qormi almost hit back immediately as four minutes later, Alfred Effiong beat the offside trap as he chased Quintieri’s through-ball but Hanford charged out of goal to somehow clear the ball away.

Cantoro was first to the rebound but the Argentine’s attempted lob was cleared off the line by Muir.

Ten minutes from the break, Qormi youngster Dylan Pirotta showed great footwork to burst into the Floriana area but his cross was smothered away by Hanford with the ball again falling to the Qormi winger whose effort was blocked by the Floriana defence.

Floriana almost grabbed a second on 40 minutes. Clyde Borg chipped the ball towards Emeka who anticipated Farrugia but Caruana was on hand to clear the ball before Coronado could tap home.

On the stroke of half-time, Dawes withdrew Eboh and roped in Darrell Baldacchino with Sacha Borg taking a central defensive role and the newcomer operating at left-back.

In first-half stoppage time, Qormi were awarded a penalty when Effiong was floored in the area by Hanford.

Cantoro blasted his spot-kick into the net.

Early in the second half, Zeman took off Pirotta in favour of winger Grech in a bid to add more speed to his team’s attacking moves.

On the hour, Christian Caruana dashed into the area and went down after a challenge from Gianola. Referee Spiteri pointed to the spot and dismissed Gianola who had already been booked.

The decision enraged the Qormi officials, especially club president Redeno Apap who was ordered off his team’s bench.

When play resumed, Muir drilled the ball past Farrugia to put Floriana ahead.

Spiteri again stirred controversy three minutes later when he awarded a penalty to Qormi for Edet’s sliding tackle on Cantoro .

Edet was shown the yellow card followed by the red as the Nigerian had already been cautioned.

When play resumed, Effiong stepped up to send Hanford the wrong way and make it 2-2.

Fifteen minutes from time, Qormi almost stormed ahead when, from Caruana’s corner, Cantoro anticipated his marker but his header hit the post.

On 78 minutes, Floriana’s Emeka was first to Pisani’s corner but his header was pushed over by Farrugia.

A minute later, substitute Diogo’s firm drive was parried away by Hanford and in came Emeka who incredibly fired over from routine distance.

Effiong almost won it in stoppage time when, from another corner, his firm header was turned away by Hanford.

Floriana
D. Hanford-7.5, S. Eboh-5 (43 D. Baldacchino-5), I. Edet, R. Emeka-7, C. Caruana-6 (78 S. Pisani), I. Coronado-6, C. Borg-6, J. Borg-6, B. Farrugia-6 (72 Diogo), G. Muir-7, S. Borg-7.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-6, R. Sammut-6.5, O. Bugeja-6, G. Gianola, E. Vella-6, R. Bajada-6.5 (87 Jorginho), T. Caruana-6, S. Quintieri-6 (66 D. Pisani-5.5), L. Cantoro-7, D. Pirotta-6 (53 L. Grech-5.5), A. Effiong-7.5.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Gianola; Caruana; Edet; Muir; Bugeja; Grech.

Red cards: Gianola (Q) 60; Edet (F) 64.

BOV player of the match: Lucas Cantoro (Qormi).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	22	18	2	2	51	19	56 (28)
Valletta	22	17	2	3	52	14	53 (27)
Hibernians	22	15	2	5	57	27	47 (24)
Sliema W.	22	12	7	3	43	24	43 (22)
Mosta	22	12	2	8	44	35	38 (19)
Balzan	22	8	4	10	24	31	28 (14)
Naxxar	22	8	3	11	27	39	27 (14)
Floriana	22	8	4	10	30	36	22 (11)
Vittoriosa	22	5	3	14	24	47	18 (9)
Qormi	23	4	4	14	28	45	16 (8)
Tarxien R.	22	4	4	14	27	46	16 (8)
Rabat Ajax	22	1	3	18	17	61	6 (3)