Floriana needed a late goal from Mario Fontanella to overcome Naxxar Lions 1-0 at the National Stadium.

The Greens dominated proceedings right from the outset and on 12 minutes Juninho sent a dipping cross towards Fontanella whose downward header was blocked by the Luke alert Pecorella.

 Eleven minutes from the break, Juninho showed great speed and footwork 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 attempted lob was easily blocked by the Naxxar goalkeeper.

In stoppage time, the woodwork denied the Greens an opener when Monticelli’s shot from the edge of the area touched the upright before finishing wide.

Floriana were almost punished for these missed chances as on 53 minutes in a quick break Ossou released Emiliano Lattes who was denied by the onrushing Matthew Calleja Cremona

The Naxxar no.1 was again the protagonist on 55 minutes when he neutralised Juninho’s powerful drive.

Floriana finally found the breakthrough on 77 minutes when from a Chiesa corner kick, scozzese nodded the ball into the path of Fontanella who stabbed the ball home from close in.

Naxxar goalkeeper Luke Pecorella was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.

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