Sliema Wanderers 1
Lattes 19;
Floriana 3
Grabowski 34; Akoto 58; Sodje 78;

Floriana stepped up their challenge for a top-three finish when they came from a goal down to ease past Sliema Wanderers yesterday.

This was a stirring response from the Greens after last week’s poor showing in the derby.

In fact, Joe Brincat’s men showed great character to come from behind after Emiliano Lattes had given the Blues the lead.

However, inspired by the running of Andre Grabowski, Onome Sodje and Ivan Woods the Greens stepped up their game and deservedly drew level in the opening half before completing the job after the restart.

By virtue of this win, Floriana are now back to third place with 27 points, one ahead of Birkirkara who play Balzan Youths tomorrow.

Prior to kick-off, Floriana FC had announced that none of their players would give comments to the media until they hold a meeting with the Malta FA where the committee intend to discuss ‘a series of episodes taking place in Maltese football’.

On the field, Manuel Bartolo was given the nod to start in goal instead of Patrick Jansen while defender Joseph Borg was ruled out by suspension and replaced Owen Bugeja. Duncan Pisani was drafted in ahead of Malcolm Licari and upfront Grabowski was back to replace Ryan Darmanin.

Sliema coach Danilo Doncic was boosted by the return of striker Anicet Eyenga but Bulgarian forward Danail Mitev was only fit enough to start on the bench.

The Blues were again without Rumen Galabov and Andrew Decesare while Clifford Gatt Baldacchino was out serving suspension.

It was the Wanderers who had the brighter start and after barely two minutes Ryan Fenech delivered a dangerous cross but neither Trevor Cilia nor Eyenga managed to make contact in front of a gaping goal.

Sliema were unlucky not to take the lead on seven minutes when Alex Muscat did well to turn past Bugeja before his rasping shot came off the upright.

Floriana’s response arrived on 16 minutes. Sodje burst into the box after a quick interchange with Grabowski but was denied by alert keeper Henry Bonello.

However, it was Sliema who drew first blood on 19 minutes when Lattes saw his header finish behind the out-of-position Bartolo.

That goal hit the Greens hard and, in fact, it was Sliema who came agonisingly close to double their lead on 31 minutes but Fenech’s piledriver came off the bar with Bartolo beaten.

But, Floriana soon came to life and they drew level.

On 34 minutes they were awarded a free-kick at half pitch. Doffo’s delivery was miscued by Mintoff with the ball finishing into the path of Bugeja whose shot was pushed away by Bonello. From the rebound, Grabowski was denied on the line by Steve Bezzina but the Swede made no mistake on his second attempt.

That equaliser seemed to spark the Greens into life and on 39 minutes Woods released Sodje who unleashed a powerful drive that came off the bar.

Bonello again came to Sliema’s rescue when he did well to deny the goalbound Grabowski after another fine throughball from Woods.

The match remained evenly poised after the break with both sides pushing forward in search of a breakthrough.

On 55 minutes, keeper Bartolo had to be on the alert to keep out Fenech’s piledriver.

Three minutes later, the Greens hit the jackpot on their first attempt at goal after the break.

From a free-kick, Grabowski nodded the ball into the path of Akoto who poked the ball home from close in.

Doncic reacted by withdrawing the tiring Mark Scerri and roping in Jerry Ani as Brincat introduced Clyde Borg in a bid to add more cover to his backline.

For all their efforts the Wanderers struggled to make inroads at the compact Floriana defence and instead it was the Greens who hit a third goal on 78 minutes.

Borg chipped the ball into the path of Sodje who anticipated Mifsud before beating Bonello with a low drive.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-5.5, A. Muscat-6, R. Fenech-5.5, N. Bogdanovic-5 (74 D. Mitev), J. Mifsud-5, R. Grech-6, M. Scerri-5.5 (63 J. Ani-4), A. Eyenga-5, S. Bezzina-6, T. Cilia-5.5 (68 C. Frendo-6), E. Lattes-6.5.

Floriana
M. Bartolo-6.5, D. Pisani-6 (84 T. Farrugia), M. Micallef-6.5, E. Akoto-6.5, O. Bugeja-6.5, P. Doffo-7, T. Paris-6, A. Grabowski-7.5, J. Mintoff-6.5 (72 C. Borg), I. Woods-7, O. Sodje-7 (90 Alandson).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Mintoff, Mifsud, Akoto.

BOV player of the match: Andre Grabowski (Floriana).

Standings