Naxxar Lions 0
Floriana 1
Fontanella 77;
Floriana had to fight harder than expected to see off Naxxar Lions in an entertaining match.
The Greens were clearly the better side for most of the match, creating a catalogue of scoring opportunities.
However, poor finishing from their attacking players coupled with a string of fines saves from Naxxar goalkeeper Luke Pecorella left them in danger of ending up with a frustrating draw.
Mario Fontanella came to their rescue as the Italian striker made amends for some earlier misses by hitting the winning goal that handed the Greens their second successive victory.
Floriana are now in a mid-table position while Naxxar remain bottom with no points from four matches.
Luis Oliveira, the Floriana coach, effected one change from the team that eased past Qormi 3-0 last week as Brazilian striker Juninho started in a three-pronged attack ahead of Mauricio Villa.
Pecorella was given the nod by coach Stefano Grima to start in goal for Naxxar as regular Julian Azzopardi was not in the 18-man squad.
Defender Ishmael Grech was drafted in a three-man defence at the expense of Ryan Gilmour Cassar while Sead Hadzibulic was preferred to Richard Cardozo who was not deemed fit enough to retain his place in the side.
Floriana made all the early running. After 12 minutes, Juninho sent in a dipping cross towards Fontanella whose downward header was blocked by Pecorella.
Eight minutes later, Floriana again tried to profit from their aerial power as Enrico Chiesa’s delivery picked out Andrea Scozzese who nodded the ball into the path of Steve Bonnici but the latter was denied by Pecorella.
The players were struggling to cope with the windy conditions at the National Stadium as scoring chances were few and far between.
Eleven minutes from the break, Juninho showed great speed to breeze past Andrew Scicluna but his low drive was somehow parried away by Pecorella.
The Brazilian again found himself face-to-face with Pecorella on 36 minutes but his lob was easily dealt with by the Naxxar goalkeeper.
In first-half stoppage time, the woodwork denied the Greens as Antonio Monticelli’s shot from the edge of the area skimmed the upright before finishing wide.
Five minutes into the second half, Floriana should have surged ahead.
Chiesa put Fontanella clear and the latter rounded Pecorella but his low shot lacked power and Grech was on hand to clear off the line.
The Italian striker was at it again a minute later but this time he was foiled by Pecorella who dived to his right to block his firm drive.
Floriana were almost punished for these missed chances as, in a quick break on 53 minutes, Sidoine Ossou released Emiliano Lattes who was closed down by the onrushing Matthew Calleja Cremona.
At the other end, Pecorella was again the protagonist two minutes later when he neutralised Juninho’s powerful drive.
Floriana found the breakthrough on 77 minutes. From Chiesa’s delivery, Scozzese headed the ball into the path of Fontanella who stabbed the ball home from close in.
Naxxar Lions
L. Pecorella-7, L. Rajovic-5, A. Scicluna-6, M. Del Negro-5, S. Oussou-6, S. Hadzibulic-5 (73 N. Gnenegbe), I. Grech-6, D. Fenech-6.5 (90 D. Bonnici), A. Buhagiar-5.5, E. Lattes-5 (58 R. Cardozo-5), Mandinho-5.5.
Floriana
M. Calleja Cremona-6, E. Briffa-6.5, S. Bonnici-6.5, A. Scozzese-6, J. Pisani-6, Clyde Borg-6 (67 M. Villa-5), Conor Borg-5 (57 M. Piciollo-5), A. Monticelli-5, N. Chiesa-6, Juninho-6 (82 F. Aboulezz), M. Fontanella-6.5.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Briffa; Ossou; Mandinho; Del Negro; Buhagiar.
BOV player of the match: Luke Pecorella (Naxxar Lions).