Andrea Pisanu (left) holds a memento with Sliema president Keith Perry. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Floriana 3
Coronado 3; Plut 6; Piciollo 90+;
Sliema Wanderers 1
Mateus 90;

The final game between Old Firm rivals Floriana and Sliema Wanderers doubled up as a farewell party as Italian midfielder Andrea Pisanu graced a football pitch for one last time while coach Giovanni Tedesco made his last appearance in the Greens’ dug-out.

It was Tedesco who closed his Floriana chapter on a fittingly high note as two goals inside the opening six minutes from Igor Coronado and Vito Plut, two of the best players on the field, effectively settled this end-of-season encounter.

These two clubs had nothing to play for bar pride but his team’s spirited opening suggested that Tedesco had demanded a committed showing from his players as the fifth-placed Floriana looked to conclude a positive season on a winning note.

Before kick-off, the Sliema players gathered around the retiring Pisanu. The former Parma midfielder, who was joined on the pitch by his wife and two children, was presented with a memento by Sliema president Keith Perry.

Floriana were off to a flying start. Two minutes from the initial whistle had elapsed when Douglas’s scrambled shot turned into a perfect assist for Coronado who flicked home from routine distance.

Sliema’s frailties at the back were further exposed on six minutes when Plut was on hand to turn Coronado’s cross into the box.

The Wanderers looked shell-shocked but they emerged from their early torpor as the first half gathered momentum.

Michael Mifsud had two shots deflected away for a corner but it was Floriana who threatened to add to their lead.

Mano Micallef released Plut in the six-yard box but the Slovenian's strike rolled across the goalline before Djumo Bocar cleared the danger.

There was another scare for Sliema as Piciollo’s grounder, from the distance, hit the base of the post with Sam Bartolo, making a rare start for Sliema, beaten.

At the other end, Pedrinho, who had been erroneously named among the players who received one-match ban in midweek, tried his luck with a long-range free-kick that ended high.

The game remained lively.

Valerio Senatore, restored to Floriana’s starting formation, blocked a shot from Mateus who was the central figure in Sliema’s three-man attack with Aidan Friggieri on the left and Mifsud on the right.

Tedesco, who is not staying on as Floriana coach, started with Giovanni Galea up front as Coronado, Piciollo and Plut were given the freedom to interchange.

Sliema should have pulled one back four minutes from half-time.

Mateus laid the groundwork as he darted into the box before squaring to Pedrinho whose drive was easily saved by Senatore.

Early in the second half, Mateus’s low cross from the right found Mifsud but the Malta striker was slow to react and his effort was repelled by a defender.

Matthew Calleja Cremona, who had replaced Senatore, denied Sliema when fisting away Pedrinho’s swerving cross-shot from a free-kick.

Sliema’s pressure grew, Mifsud hitting wide after receiving from Friggieri but the best chance fell to Floriana 19 minutes from time.

Plut waltzed his way past a posse of Sliema players and into the box before passing to Piciollo who seemed to lose his balance as he was about to shoot.

The Blues continued to enjoy more possession but their efforts were easily subdued by Floriana.

On 84 minutes, Calleja Cremona blocked Pedrinho’s shot.

But Floriana clearly carried more threat going forward with Piciollo volleying high after running on to Coronado's pass.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Sliema pulled one back thanks to Mateus who rammed past Calleja Cremona after Pedrinho’s shot was deflected into his path.

Hardly a minute passed and Floriana restored their two-goal lead thanks to Piciollo who hammered past Bartolo after racing into the box.

Floriana
V. Senatore-6.5 (53 M. Calleja Cremona-6), Douglas-6, S. Pisani-5.5 (81 D. Agius), V. Plut-7.5, I. Coronado-7, M. Piciollo-7, E. Briffa-6, G. Galea-5 (53 G. Muir-5.5), S. Borg-6, S. Bonnici-6, M. Micallef-6.5.

Sliema Wanderers
S. Bartolo-5, A. Muscat-5.5, M. Scerri-6 (54 B. Muscat-5), M. Mifsud-5.5 (78 T. Cilia), A. Pisanu-6 (67 P. Xuereb-6), C. Gatt Baldacchino-5.5, Mateus-6.5, M. Potezica-5, A. Friggieri-5, Pedrinho-6, D. Bocar-6.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Douglas; Pedrinho; Briffa; Bocar; Gatt Baldacchino.

BOV player of the match: Vito Plut (Floriana).