360Sports Malta Premier – MD21 Closing Round
Floriana…………………2
Marsaxlokk…………….1
The match had to start 45 minutes late due to the heavy rain that soaked the Tony Bezzina Stadium just minutes before kick-off. Despite the delayed start, Floriana secured three vital points after clinching a late victory against Marsaxlokk.
Video credit: Ryan Cauchi
In the 9th minute, Marsaxlokk had their first chance when Messias received the ball well inside the box and, with a neat feint, outwitted goalkeeper Mafoumbi. However, Lonardelli made a crucial block to divert the ball for a corner.
In the 15th minute, Floriana took the lead following an angled free kick from Gamarra, who caught Calleja Cremona off guard.
In the 26th minute, Yuri Messias created a good opportunity as he turned well inside the box and unleashed a powerful shot, but the ball went slightly over the bar. In the 41st minute, a corner taken by Jake Grech found Garcia, whose header was easily saved by Calleja Cremona.
In the 59th minute, a dangerous cross by Leandro Agius swerved toward the net, but Mafoumbi made a solid save. In the 62nd minute, Marsaxlokk came close to equalising after a low cross into the box caused confusion. The ball deflected toward the goal, but Mafoumbi reacted well to save it, and the Floriana defenders cleared the danger. In the 77th minute, Yuri Messias received the ball at the edge of the box and struck a shot just wide of Mafoumbi’s goal.
Marsaxlokk found the equaliser in the 81st minute after a free kick led to a scramble. Yuri Messias anticipated the action and, with a header, deflected the ball off Lucas Lopez and into the net to make it 1-1.
In the 83rd minute, Mafoumbi made another crucial save, this time stopping a header from Soares.
Floriana scored the winning goal in the 88th minute when the ball fell to Garcia following a corner, and with a clever backheel, he slotted it into the net.
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Player of the Match: Julian Gamarra (Floriana)
Line-ups:
Floriana: Henri Christoffer, Oualid El Hasni, Jake Grech (Elvis Machike), Zachary Scerri (Jork Eblin), Dunstan Vella, Nicolas Garcia, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Aleandro Garzia), Julian Gamarra, Franklin Sasere, Alexandros Kouro
Marsaxlokk: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Karl Micallef, Ailton Jorge, Nikolai Muscat, Yuri Messias, Juan Carlos Corbalan (Sergio Kukhianidze), Ulises Arias, Martin Adamec, Emanuel Lucas, Alex Gomes, Leandro Aguirre
