FLORIANA 3 MOSTA 2

Floriana earned a late winner as the Greens dragged themselves back from two goals down to earn a thrilling victory against Mosta.

Mosta dominated the first half and Adrian Borg and Manolito Micallef gave Enrico Piccioni a double lead before half-time.

After the break, Matteo Picciollo, surprisingly left on the bench, turned the game on its head to inspire his side’s amazing revival, serving Vito Plut two assists to level before Mosta goalkeeper Borg’s mistake allowed Brooke Farrugia to complete the comeback.

Mosta had the better of the early exchanges but their pressure hardly unsettled Floriana.

In the 20th minute, the Brazilian midfielder delivered another curling cross from a left-wing free-kick which was headed in the net by Borg.

Mosta’s second goal heaped the pressure on the stuttering Floriana. Their fragile was laid bare when Ekani strode clear from midfield before Manolito Micallef came in from behind to hit a low drive past Valerio Senatore.

Soon after the change of ends, Piciollo enterprising on the left played an excellent cross that was headed in by Plut.

Reinvigorated by Piciollo’s sharp movement, Floriana restored parity five minutes later thanks to the fine dribbling of Plut, who served up by a perfect ball from the Italian, sped past Tyrone Farrugia and onrushing Borg and depositing the ball into an empty net.

After 71 minutes, Mosta were reduced to 10 men when substitute Ryan Grech in for Kurt Magro, scythed down Conor Borg to end his venture towards the Mosta penalty area.

And two minutes later, Mosta goalkeeper gifted Floriana their third when he came off the line to punch away a savagely-struck free-kick from Steve Pisani in the path of Farrugia and he could only watch in horror as the striker prodded home the winner.