FLORIANA 2 RABAT AJAX 1

Floriana cemented their position at the top of the relegation pool with a comfortable win over Rabat Ajax.

The match was a one-sided affair with Floriana creating a string of goal scoring opportunities in both halves with their victory maturing courtesy of goals from Brazilian duo Diogo and Igor Coronado on either side of half-time.

With strong winds sweeping across the Centenary Stadium, Floriana stormed into the lead on 19 minutes. The returning Igor Coronado was the architect with a surging run on the left before passing to Diogo who burst into the box before hitting past Andrew Zammit, the Rabat goalkeeper.

Midway through the first half, Coronado raced clear infield from the right flank and with Christian Caruana screaming for the ball to be played into the box, the Brazilian striker went alone and shot into the goalkeeper.

Giovanni Tedesco’s team kept a firm hand on the game but failed to trouble the Rabat rearguard.

Yet, the Magpies found themselves two goal behind soon after the break. Caruana provided Coronado with a measured cross as the Floriana forward did well to stretch out a leg and poke the ball past Zammit.

Shy the hour mark, Andrè Scicluna accelerated into the box from the right and squared the ball for Gary Muir but Zachary Tanti was on hand to hook the ball off the line.

In the 65th minute, Floriana nearly increased their lead when Coronado unleashed a powerful shot which was brilliantly saved by Zammit.

Six minutes from time, Shawn Gauci pulled one back for his team when Diego Carrillo Pendas’s free-kick took a deflection which sent the ball into the path of the defender who was unmarked on the far post to hit it home.