FLORIANA-3, QORMI-2
Floriana gave new president Riccardo Gaucci the best welcoming gift as they opened their Relegation Pool campaign with a hard-earned 3-2 victory over Qormi.Brazilian Diogo Pinheiro scored a brace for the Greens who moved six points clear of Qormi after ending a run of six matches without a win.
Floriana had a great opportunity to open the scoring after seven minutes. Picking up a clearance following a corner, Sacha Borg delivered a floating cross into the box where Christian Caruana was unmarked but the playmaker miscued his pass.In their next attack, Floriana scored.
Steve Pisani's cross from the right dropped to Diogo Pinheiro who slipped past his marker before lifting his shot past Steve Sultana.Qormi might have levelled two minutes later as Alfred Effiong's through-ball released Leighton Grech but the latter's central effort was saved by Daniel Hanford, the Floriana goalkeeper.
Coronado should have doubled Floriana's lead on 24 minutes as the Brazilian ran into the box unmarked to reach a long ball but his close-range effort was beaten away by Sultana, the Qormi goalkeeper.Just past the hour mark, Hanford stopped Jorginho's set-piece cross and, minutes later, Effiong was high with a shot from outside the penalty area.
Qormi's pressure increased as the first half wore on but a series of corners led to nothing as Hanford and his defensive colleagues managed to clear the danger.
Two minutes from half-time, Qormi were unlucky not to level matters. Effiong drifted infield from the left before picking out Grech in the box but the latter's attempt came off the upright.Qormi missed another chance to level matters five minutes into the second half as Jorginho cushioned Duncan Pisani's cross towards Cantoro who blasted over.
Floriana were reprieved but not for long. Two minutes later, Jorginho supplied an excellent through-ball to Grech who sped clear before slotting past the on-rushing Hanford.Boostyed by Grech's goal, Qormi looked in control but Floriana regained the lead five minutes later.
Zeman's team were in ascendancy but Floriana scored against the run of Diogo stroking the ball home from close in after getting first to Coronado's pass.At the other end, Jorginho's free-kick sailed over the bar and, on 69 minutes, Hanford saved from Cantoro.
With 15 minutes remaining, Floriana went 3-1 up, Duncan Pisani committing an own goal as he tried to clear Coronado's cross but Qormi were back in contention when, six minutes from time, Effiong headed home from Gabriel's corner.
Floriana's Diogo was named BOV player of the match.