Floriana will be looking to restore some lost pride when they face AEK Larnaca, of Cyprus, in the return leg of the second qualifying round of the Europa League at the GSZ Stadium this evening (kick-off: 7 p.m.).
A shocking 8-0 defeat at the Hibs Stadium dashed any hopes the Greens might have entertained of progressing to the next round but coach Michael Woods will be urging his players to at least bow out of the competition with a more composed display.
Former Valletta striker Priso Doding was one of the major threats for the Floriana defenders last week and Woods will be hopeful his players will be able to contain better the surging runs of the Cameroon winger.
The Greens’ task, however, is rendered more difficult by the ab-sence of two of their foreign players as Brazilian striker Edilson is ruled out with a knee injury he sustained in last week’s first leg while Argentine forward Julio Alcorse was unable to make the trip to Cyprus due to visa problems.
The Greens have a decimated squad. In fact, only 15 players are available for this match.
On a more positive note is the return of striker Ivan Woods who recovered from the hamstring strain that forced him out of the first match at Corradino last week.
AEK Larnaca will be looking to wrap up qualification with another sound victory in front of their own fans.
Coach Ton Caanen, who also has former Malta defender Luke Dimech in his squad, could be tempted to rest some of his top players ahead of next week’s third qualifying round tie against Mlada Boleslav, of the Czech Republic.
Referee: Arman Amirkhanyan (Armenia FA).
Europa League
Second qualifying round (today’s second legs)
Fulham-Crusaders (3-1); L. Tallinn vs Differdange (0-0); Karabakh-EB/Streymur (1-1); Aalesund-Ferencvaros (1-2); Jablonec-Flamurtari (2-0); AEK Larnaca-Floriana (8-0); Gaziantepspor-Minsk (1-1); Gagra-Anorthosis (0-3); V. Poltava-Glentoran (2-0); Honka-Hacken (0-1); Nacional-Hafnarfjordur (1-1); V. Varazdin-Iskra Stal (1-1); Rabotnicki-J. Dogana (1-0); S. Trnava-Tirana (0-0); Aktobe-Kecskemeti (1-1);
Gaz M. Medias-KuPS Kuopio (0-1); Salzburg-L. Metalurgs (4-1); D. Tbilisi-Llanelli (1-2); Khazar Lenkoran-Maccabi Tel Aviv (1-3); Irtysh-Metallurg Rustavi (1-1); Lok. Sofia-Met. Skopje (0-0); RNK Split-Domzale (2-1); Bohemians-Ljubljana (0-2); Sarajevo-Orebro (0-0); Tromso-Paksi SE (1-1); Olympiakos Volos-Rad Belgrade (1-0); Zilina-Reykjavik (0-3);
Austria Vienna-R. Pljevlja (3-0); Bnei Yehuda-Sant Julia (2-0); St Patricks-S. Karagandy (1-2); Ventspils-S. Soligorsk (1-0); Dundee Utd-Slask Wroclaw (0-1); Elfsborg-Suduva (1-1); Den Haag-T. Taurage (3-2); Midtjylland-TNS (3-1); Westerlo-TTurku (1-0); Vojvodina-Vaduz (2-0); Mika-Valerenga (0-1); Thun-Vllaznia (0-0); FC Sheriff-Zeljeznicar (0-1).
Third qualifying round: July 28 and August 4.