Mosta’s Adrian Borg (right) tries to clear the ball away from Matteo Piciollo. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Mosta 0
Floriana 1
Monticelli 67;

Floriana kept up the pace with the Premier League frontrunners after grinding out a hard-fought win over a stubborn Mosta side and stay two points behind joint-leaders Valletta and Hibernians.

Judging by the run of play and goalscoring chances, Floriana should have triumphed over their rivals with a bigger margin, especially on the back of a thrilling first-half display.

Spurred on by the running of their front trio of Nicolas Chiesa, Mario Fontanella and Matteo Piciollo, Floriana outclassed their opponents but their failure to open the score left the game finely-poised as Mosta held off everything that their opponents threw at them thanks mainly to the heroics of goalkeeper Omar Borg.

However, Floriana finally got the breakthrough they deserved on 67 minutes courtesy of Antonio Monticelli to bag three priceless points and their third win in their last four matches.

Former Nigerian international Tico made his debut for Mosta, while Edile Micheletti and Ryan Grech came in for the suspended Hassan Yau and the injured Rodrigues Ekani.

Luis Oliveira made one change from the 0-0 draw against the Stripes with Mauricio Villa making way for the returning Clyde Borg.

The Floriana supporters hoisted a number of French flags in a show of solidarity after the tragic events in Paris last week.

Scoring chances proved elusive in the initial 20 minutes during which Floriana enjoyed territorial supremacy but could not breach the resistance of a well-drilled Mosta defence.

Past the quarter of an hour mark, Piciollo made a ghosting run into the Mosta box but his cross-shot found no takers.

Moments later, Micheletti almost committed an own goal in a bid to clear a dangerous corner by Chiesa.

Floriana’s best opportunity to surge ahead came a minute past the half-hour. Piciollo saw his low effort blocked when coming face to face with Omar Borg.

The frequency of Floriana’s attacking moves picked up as the first half wore on with Borg showing good reflexes to parry Fontanella’s close-range shot.

Moments later, a header by Fontanella almost caught Borg on the wrong foot but the Mosta goalkeeper managed to smother the ball away.

Matthew Calleja Cremona drew an applause from the numerous Floriana fans after the break when denying Saviour Fidelis from close-range.

After 55 minutes, Floriana cursed their luck, or rather the lack of it when Chiesa smacked a thunderous shot which Borg parried away with the aid of the crossbar.

The Blues’ relief was palpable but, in no time, they found themselves behind.

Pisani’ s intelligent short free-kick found Monticelli unmarked in the box and the Italian midfielder stabbed the ball past Borg to the relief of the Floriana fans.

Ivan Zammit responded by hauling off Tico and defender Adrian Borg in favour of Ian Zammit and Dyson Falzon as Manolito Micallef was detailed to provide an extra push upfront on the right flank.

So, it was all-hands-to the pump for Floriana as Mosta driven by Micallef and Zammit enjoyed a spell of late pressure.

Floriana tried to punish Mosta’s flat-out approach with quick counter-attacks as Piciollo made a quick transition from defence to attack to set up substitute Villa but the latter shot over the bar.

Mosta
O. Borg-7, T. Farrugia-6, M. Micallef-6.5, O. Guobadia-6, A. Borg-6 (83 D. Falzon), E. Micheletti-6, S. Chuckwide-5, R. Grech-5 (73 I. Zammit), E. Murga-5, S. Fidelis-5.5, Tico-6 (64 F. Abel-5).

Floriana
M. Calleja Cremona-6, A. Monticelli-7, E. Pepe-6, S. Pisani-6.5 (77 Conor Borg), Clyde Borg-7.5, J. Pisani-6, M. Piciollo-6, S. Bonnici-6, E. Briffa-6, N. Chiesa-6.5 (90 F. Aboulezz) M. Fontanella-6.5 (72 M. Villa).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Tico, Chuckwide, Fidelis, Micheletti.

BOV player of the match: Clyde Borg (Floriana).