FLORIANA-3, SLIEMA WANDERERS-0
Matteo Piciollo turned in a man-of-the-match performance to inspire Floriana to a resounding 3-0 win over Old Firm rivals Sliema Wanderers.
The Italian striker scored a brace as the Greens were streets ahead of a tepid Sliema Wanderers side who were again devoid of creativity and punch up front.
With this win, Floriana have moved on the 13-point mark, three ahead of Sliema who suffered their defeat of the season. Floriana were the more enterprising side in the first half.
They drove forward from the initial whistle, going close twice to seizing the lead.
Inside the opening minute, Jurgen Pisani, advancing on the left, produced a firm drive that sailed over the bar.
The Greens should have scored when Matteo Piciollo recovered possession after Sliema had partially cleared a Chiesa corner before hitting a curling shot that came off the upright with Glenn Zammit beaten. The ball fell to Conor Borg in the six-yard box but his low effort flashed across the face of goal.
Antonio Monticelli was marginally wide from the distance but, on 18 minutes, Floriana nosed ahead.
It was Piciollo who fired the Greens ahead as his drive landed in the net via the underside of the crossbar. Floriana again had the ball in the net midway into the first half but Mario Fontanella was offside after Chiesa had taken a corner from the right.
The Greens remained on top. It was not before the 25th minute that Sliema finally began to cause some danger to the Floriana defence.
Pedrinho headed over from Ledesma's cross, and minutes later, the Brazilian's drive was blocked in two attempts by Floriana goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona.
Just before half-time, Chiesa released Piciollo who moved past Cliffordf Gatt Baldacchino but his effort was deflected away for a throw-in.
The Blues had a good chance to equalise 10 minutes into the second half. Ledesma, advancing through the middle, switched the ball to Gary Muir who held off Emanuel Briffa and lifted the ball past the on-rushing Calleja Cremona but the Floriana right-back sprinted towards goal to clear off the line.
Calleja Cremona then stopped Pedrinho's low free-kick, given for Briffa's tackle on Muir.
Sliema's evening took a turn for the worse midway into the second half when Piciollo took advantage of some slack defending as he powered his way into the box, pounced on a deflection and rifled past Zammit from a central position.
With the Blues out for the count despite Azzopardi changing his gameplan to try and boost his attack, Floriana heaped further misery on their rivals as substitute Steve Pisani beat Zammit with a crisp first-time drive from Piciollo's cross.