FLORIANA-2, PEMBROKE ATHLETA-1
Floriana scored twice in the last 12 minutes to pull off a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Pembroke Athleta.
The Greens were the better side for most of the game but they found themselves a goal down after Zoran Levnaic put Pembroke ahead.
Despite seeing more of the ball, Floriana struggled to find a way past the Pembroke defence but, in a nervy finale, Mario Fontanella snatched the winner after substitute Mauricio Villa had levelled matters.
Floriana dominated the early exchanges, going close to scoring on a number of occasions.
Mario Muscat, Pembroke's veteran goalkeeper, pushed away Matteo Piciollo's drive while Antonio Monticelli's long-range drive was high.
The Greens should have scored on 17 minutes when striker Mario Fontanella was first to Emanuel Briffa's cross but he headed tamely at Muscat.
Everyone was expecting Floriana to take the lead but instead it was Pembroke who scored against the run of play on 33 minutes.
Paltemio Barbetti's cross, from a left-wing free-kick, sailed into the box and Zoran Levnaic headed into the net.
The Greens piled up the pressure in the second half but Pembroke held firm in defence. Their resistance was broken 12 minutes from time when Floriana substitute Juninho's free-kick sparked a goalmouth melee and Mauricio Villa, who had just come on for Steve Pisani, managed to beat Muscat with a downward header.
In a similar action, Juninho's cross, from another free-kick, dropped to Villa as Pembroke's offside trap failed but the Italian striker's strike was stopped by Muscat.
Floriana protested for a penalty when Miguel Attard appeared to bring down Juninho but Tonna allowed play to continue.
Tempers became frayed on the touchline as Floriana president Riccardo Gaucci sprinted towards the Pembroke dug-out to confront Cedric Sciberras, the Pembroke physiotherapist. Both Gaucci and Sciberras dismissed by Tonna.
Floriana won it in stoppage time thanks to Fontanella who headed Villa's cross into the net from point-blank distance.
Muscat, the Pembroke goalkeeper, was named BOV player of the match.