Floriana 1
Qormi 3

The FA Trophy again brought Qormi a modicum of respite from their league travails.

Taking on Floriana in the only all-Premier League fourth round clash, Qormi found an extra gear in the final 20 minutes as goals from Frank Temile and Ryan Micallef finally put the defiant Greens to sword.

The result flattered Qormi though as Floriana, down to 10 men after Amadou Samb had seen red late in the first half, were left to rue their bad fortune after Conor Borg’s effort cannoned off the post before Temile’s goal changed the dynamic of this tight encounter.

Leighton Grech was thrust straight into the thick of things by Qormi coach Josef Mansueto.

The speedy winger, who rejoined Qormi from Birkirkara earlier this week, started on the right of Qormi’s attacking midfield trio with Joseph Chetcuti in the centre and Temile on the left. Micallef played up front for Qormi.

Floriana coach Giovanni Tedesco kept Matteo Piciollo, Steve Pisani and Clyde Borg on the bench but Samb was handed a recall.

Uzeh Edafe, another mid-season signing for Qormi, fired wide from Temile’s free-kick inside the opening four minutes.

Danger loomed for Qormi when, on 11 minutes, Samb raced past Duncan Pisani before cutting the ball back. Vito Plut failed to make contact but the ball rolled to Conor Borg who drove wide.

Moments later, Floriana protested for a penalty when Pisani’s sliding challenge dispossessed Emanuel Briffa but referee Andrè Arciola was unimpressed.

Qormi began to assert themselves around the 15th-minute mark. Edafe unleashed a powerful shot from the distance but goalkeeper Tyrone Gauci turned the ball around his near post.

There was little in the way of creative football but then, out of the blue, Floriana struck.

Samb advanced menacingly into the box, confusing Pisani whose wayward clearance rolled straight to Plut who sidestepped his marker and flicked past the Qormi goalkeeper.

Stung into action by Floriana’s opener, Qormi levelled on the cusp of half-time.

Chetcuti’s dipping cross-shot from a free-kick surprised Gauci as the ball soared over the young Floriana goalkeeper and caressed the crossbar before dropping into the net.

As Qormi celebrated their equaliser, assistant referee Edward Spiteri raised his flag to signal an infringement. Referee Arciola dismissed Samb, his third red card in the last five games, after the Senegalese clashed with an opponent inside the box.

Early in the second half, Grech twisted his way into the box but his rising effort was high. At the other end, Plut released Piciollo but the Italian sent his shot wide.

Temile was also wide with a shot but Qormi were clearly toiling to make their extra-man count.

Their task would have become more complicated but for the woodwork as Plut dragged the ball back to Conor Borg but his half-volley cannoned off the inside of the far post.

With 17 minutes remaining, Qormi struck the decisive blow.

Grech exchanged passes with Temile as he charged towards the byline. His cross was cleared by Gauci but the ball dropped to Temile who drilled home.

Qormi rubberstamped their win three minutes from time. Clifford Gauci’s persistence was rewarded as the former Żebbuġ midfielder retrieved possession outside the box before slipping a through-pass to Micallef who slotted home.

Alfred Effiong, who had come on for the injured Chetcuti, had the chance to make it 4-1 but his shot was stopped by Gauci.

Floriana: T. Gauci, Rodrigo, Mar-celina, V. Plut (78 G. Galea), Conor Borg, N. Spiteri (46 M. Piciollo), E. Briffa (83 S. Pisani), A. Samb, G. Muir, S. Borg, S. Bonnici.

Qormi: M. Farrugia, U. Edafe, M. Mazzetti, J. Chetcuti (79 A. Effiong), C. Gauci, F. Temile, R. Micallef (89 B. Bondin), Z. Levnaic, D. Pisani, J. Bondin, L. Grech (90 S. Agius).

Referee: Andrè Arciola.

Red card: Samb (F) 45.

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