Mosta-1, Floriana-3

(after extra-time; 90 mins - 1-1)

Floriana will contest the final of the National League 100 Anniversary Cup after beating Mosta 3-1 in extra-time in today’s first semi-final at the National Stadium.

Mosta enjoyed a flying start as they took the lead after just four minutes. Mark Briggs swung in a teasing cross from a right-wing free-kick and the unchallenged Lee Grima headed past Bernard Paris from close range.

The rest of the first half offered few notable chances with Floriana struggling to get their passing game off the ground. Floriana upped the tempo in the second half.

Sacha Borg produced a teasing cross-shot that came off the crossbar and Ryan Darmanin’s rising shot was beaten away by Jonathan Debono, the Mosta goalkeeper.

The Greens’ pressure procured an equaliser eight minutes from time thanks to substitute Mark Spiteri who beat Debono with a low shot from just inside the box.

With the score tied at 1-1 at the final whistle, the game went into extra-time. In the final minutes of the first half of extra-time, Mosta wasted a great chance to move ahead when Briggs’s penalty, given for a handball by Pablo Doffo, was saved by Paris.

Floriana all but sealed their passage tothe final when Michael Ghebru, running onto a pass from Ryan Darmanin, scored with a low shot.

The Greens added a third deep into stoppage time when Darmanin converted a penalty, given after Debono tripped the onrushing Ghebru inside the box.