Floriana’s Andre Scicluna is brought down in the area by Joseph Caruana, of Rabat Ajax yesterday. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Rabat Ajax 0
Floriana 5
Pisani 3; Coronado 8; Muir 79 pen; Diogo 89, 90;

Floriana hit five goals past bottom-placed Rabat Ajax who are now on the brink of relegation.

The Greens did not even had to stretch themselves to rip open the vulnerable Rabat whose limitations left them no options but to go almost exclusively for caution.

Ian Dawes’s side stormed into a two-goal lead inside the first eight minutes of yesterday’s match and from then on there was never any doubt on who would take maximum spoils.

With Igor Coronado’s speed, the continuity of Gary Muir and the shrewd skills of Diogo, the Greens were a cut above their opponents.

Rabat, mostly by design, rarely ventured forward yesterday and in any case, the growing list of absentees hampered the Ajax’s cause.

Their 4-1-4-1 configuration went into tatters in the second half when they were reduced to ten men following Ryan Micallef’s dismissal as Floriana looked confident and they moved fluently and more effectively than they had done in the opening period.

For Steve D’Amato’s team, yesterday’s defeat pushed them ever closer to a return to Division One football. The Magpies, with only four points to show, will be mathematically relegated if they lose their next match against Naxxar Lions on Saturday.

Rabat Ajax were again down to the bare bones with Dylan Falzon and Sorin Oproiescu joining a growing injury list that includes Adam Smeir and Daniel Pelaez.

The Magpies were also forced to do without midfielder Jonathan Bajada, suspended, while goalkeeper Pavle Velimirovic was down with flu. D’Amato had no option but to field a makeshift defence with Shawn Gauci filling in at right back, Ivan Carapic and Zachary Tanti forming the central axis and David Azzopardi on the left.

Floriana’s initial formation showed two changes. Christian Caruana was preferred to Brooke Farrugia and Joseph Borg replaced Sacha Borg, suspended.

The game was only two minutes old when the first signs that this was going to be Floriana’s day emerged.

Steve Pisani underlined his rich seam of form when letting fly a thunderbolt from just outside the box that beat Jonathan Azzopardi, the Rabat custodian, hands down as the ball arrowed into the top corner.

Rabat’s troubles to deal with Coronado’s swift incursions down the left flank were laid bare in the eighth minute. The Brazilian had no mercy for Gauci as he surged clear of the Ajax defender before darting into the box and fired a rising shot into the top corner.

Floriana defender Jonathan Xerri sent Diego Carrillo Pendas crashing to the ground in Rabat’s first venture towards the Greens penalty area after 15 minutes. The Spaniard picked himself up to extract a delightful right-foot strike over the wall but Daniel Hanford was up to the task as he pawed the ball away.

A minute later, Jonathan Azzo-pardi earned the plaudits with a fine save as he launched himself downwards to block Coronado running down the left flank after leaving Carapic in his trail.

Just before half-time, Diogo’s curling cross sailed towards the far post where Ibok Edet directed a header towards goal but a fully-stretched Azzopardi managed to keep out the ball.

Things went from bad to worse for Rabat at the start of the second half when they had Micallef shown a straight red for a reckless tackle on Christian Caruana 25 seconds from restart.

Floriana slowly began to make the most of the extra man advantage and took control of proceedings.

In the 57th minute, Azzopardi did well to tip Gary Muir’s free-kick over.

Rabat’s slim prospects of forcing their way back into contention were over 12 minutes from time when Floriana were awarded a penalty after Andrè Scicluna went down under the challenge of Josef Caruana inside the box.

From the resultant penalty, Gary Muir had the better of Azzopardi with a low shot.

Galvanised by that goal, Floriana maintained their foot on the accelerator, Azzopardi pulling off another save to tip away Muir’s shot.

One minute from time, Diogo got the goal he deserved with a composed strike, taking advantage of good work from Coronado to score the fourth for the Greens.

However, the Brazilian was not finished yet as in stoppage time the Brazilian swept past three defenders before curling his shot into the far corner from a tight angle.

Rabat Ajax
J. Azzopardi-6.5, S. Gauci-5, D. Azzo-pardi-5, I. Carapic-5, J. Caruana-5, Z. Tanti-5, A. Azzopardi-5 (80 C. Vella), W. Borg-5 (89 S. Cortis), D. Carrillo Pendas-6, R. Micallef, M. Licari-5.

Floriana
D. Hanford-6, A. Scicluna-6.5, I. Edet-6, S. Pisani-6 (82 L. Casha), C. Caruana-6.5, I. Coronado-7, Diogo-7.5, J. Xerri-6, C. Borg-6, J. Borg-6 (89 D. Baldacchino), G. Muir-6.5 (85 B. Farrugia).

Referee: Keith Kennedy (N. Ireland FA).

Yellow card: J. Caruana.

Red card: Micallef (R) 46.

BOV Player of the match: Igor Coronado (Floriana).