UEFA Champions League 2026/27 – First Qualifying Round Leg 1
Floriana………………2
Shamrock Rovers….0
Floriana took a major step towards the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 season after securing a 2-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the first leg of their opening qualifying tie. The game was played at the Centenary Stadium in Ta’ Qali.
The game was surrounded by controversy off the pitch as Floriana FC last night decided to pull off the plug to the National Broadcaster PBS as the Club decided that the game should not be broadcast live citing the decision was taken by the top officials. Due to the UEFA obligation of the VAR system that had to be used around this game Floriana on Tuesday morning made a drastic U-Turn and entered again into last minute negotiations with PBS to ask them for a last minute TV production. The game was also live on RTE.ie and also on TVMSport+
Meanwhile on the field of pitch the Greens struck at crucial moments, finding the net just before half-time before adding a second goal late in the match to establish a valuable two-goal advantage ahead of next Tuesday’s return leg in Dublin.
Head coach Daniel Portela handed competitive debuts to new signings Kauan and Robert Muric as he deployed his usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Cioletti started in goal, with Zammit Lonardelli, Spiteri, Kauan and Beerman forming the back four. Vella and Kurtalic anchored midfield, while Muric, Varela and Dervisagic operated behind lone striker Jah.
Three more new arrivals – Gaston Romano, Ange Curtis N’Dri and Tomislav Gudelj – started on the bench..
Floriana managed to take the lead just before the end of the first half thanks to a wonder goal by Muric. Healy was sent off in the 58th minute after a double booking.
Floriana doubled the score on 79 minutes through a tap in by Mustapha Jah.
Should they progress, Floriana will face the winners of the tie between Ararat of Armenia and Riga FC of Latvia in the second qualifying round.
Line Ups:
Floriana FC – G. Cioletti, M. Beerman, Kauan, K. Dervisagic (66’ A. Curtis N’Dri), F. Varela, R. Muric (81’ T. Gudelj), D. Vella (71’ G. Romano), A. Kurtalic, O. Spiteri, M. Jah (81’ Z. Scerri), C. Zammit Lonardelli.
Shamrock Rovers – E. McGinty, E. Stevens, L. Grace, D. Watts (63 J. O’Reilly-O’Sullivan), M. Healy, G. Burke (72 M. Asamoah), J. Mulraney (63 L. O’Regan), A. Brennan, C. O’Sullivan, J. Bryne, M. Noonan (88 J. McGovern).
Referee: Benjamin Brand (Germany).
Yellow cards: Healy. Red card: Healy (S) 58.
