Rabat’s Moises Avila Perez (right) brings down Steve Pisani to give away a penalty. Photo: Ian Pace

Floriana 3
Coronado 29, 50; Muir 90 pen;
Rabat Ajax 2
Micallef 81; Pelaez 87 pen;

Gary Muir’s last-gasp penalty gave Floriana a hard-fought 3-2 victory over lowly Rabat who almost com-pleted a remarkable recovery after having trailed 2-0 yesterday.

The Scotsman confirmed his expertise from the spot to give coach Iain Dawes his third consecutive victory as the Greens kept in contention for a Championship Pool berth.

It was hard for the Magpies to accept the result at the end as Ryan Micallef and Daniel Pelaez – also from the spot – could not save the side from defeat.

Dawes made only one change from the Greens’ previous showing, striker Steve Pisani taking the place of Luca Casha.

Rabat defenders Dylan Falzon and David Azzopardi were included in the Rabat line-up as Malcolm Licari started on the bench and Ivan Carapic was out due to suspension.

The threat posed by Igor Coronado prompted Rabat mentor Steve D’Amato to alter tactics as he opted to strengthen his defensive lines by having Azzopardi wide on the flank to provide extra cover for Zachary Tanti.

The game was seven minutes old when Caruana’s cross sailed towards Ibok Edet who met the ball with a powerful header that finished just over the Rabat goal.

Floriana were then denied what looked like a clear penalty when Pisani burst through but the grounded Shaun Gauci stopped the ball with an arm to block the shot at goal. Referee Chris Lautier saw nothing untoward though.

But any sense of injustice Floriana might have felt quickly fizzled out when Pisani’s attempt was temporarily blocked by the Rabat goalkeeper, the loose ball rolled into the path of Coronado who hit home from close range.

Jonathan Azzopardi made a superb save to palm away a point-blank header from Edet as Rabat had their first real glimpse of goal after 49 minutes when Diego Carrillo Pendas produced a fine solo move before squaring for Moises Avila Perez who beat two defenders but fired straight into Daniel Hanford’s hands.

The Magpies paid dearly for that miss as Floriana added a second with a quick counter-attack.

A low pass from the right by Pisani seemed to pose little danger for Rabat. It was not to be, however, as Joseph Caruana lost his balance, letting Coronado off on a diagonal run before the Brazilian poked it home with ease.

Rabat briefly interrupted Floriana’s dominance when Carrillo Pendas slipped past his marker to get into the path of Pelaez’s looping cross but his effort finished just wide off the far post.

Floriana temporarily lost com-posure and that lapse almost cost them victory in the end.

Ryan Micallef pulled one back nine minutes from time when Clifford Gauci sliced open the Greens’ defence, picking out his team-mate who tapped the ball past Hanford and into the net.

And the Magpies drew level six minutes later after Edet was shown a straight red card for hauling down Carrillo Pendas in the box. Pelaez stepped up for the penalty to drill his shot past the Greens keeper.

Floriana were shell-shocked and Rabat looked on course for a positive result as the game entered its final moments.

But then, as they pressed forward, D’Amato’s men were hit by a sucker punch as Floriana were awarded a penalty after Avila-Perez floored Pisani inside the box.

Azzopardi guessed the right way but Muir’s spot-kick flew beyond the keeper’s reach.

Rabat threw all men forward in those frantic last few minutes and Avila Perez found himself with an opportunity to redeem himself for his previous mistake but shot wide from an inviting position following a bad clearance by the Floriana rearguard.

Floriana
D. Hanford-6, G. Muir-6, A. Scicluna-5, I. Edet, D. Baldacchino-5.5, C. Borg-5, J. Borg-5, Diogo-5.5 (86 G. Favero), C. Caruana-5.5 (57 B. Farrugia-5), I. Coronado-6.5, S. Pisani-6.

Rabat Ajax
J. Azzopardi-6.5, S. Gauci-6, Z. Tanti-5 (69 M. Licari-5), J. Caruana-5, D. Falzon-5, C. Gauci-6, D. Carrillo Pendas-6.5, D. Pelaez-6, M. Avila Perez-5, R. Micallef-6, D. Azzopardi-5.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Micallef, Falzon, C. Caruana, Farrugia, Avila Perez.

Red card: Edet (F) 87.

BOV player of the match: Igor Coronado (Floriana).