360Sports Malta Premier, Tony Bezzina Stadium
Floriana………………2
Mosta…………………2
A dramatic late penalty from Franklin Sasere salvaged a 2-2 draw for Floriana, preventing a shock defeat against Mosta in a match defined by three spot kicks. Defensive lapses proved costly for the Greens, as they conceded twice from the penalty spot before snatching a point at the death.
Floriana endured a nightmare start, falling behind inside the opening 10 minutes. Carlo Lonardelli was penalized for handling Clayton Failla’s free-kick inside the box, and Failla made no mistake from the spot, firing past Christofer Mafoumbi to give Mosta the lead.
Defensive uncertainty plagued Floriana throughout the first half. With Oualid El Hasni and Guy Yameogo caught high up the pitch, Alexandros Kouro was left exposed at the back. He struggled to contain Giancarlo Goncalves, whose blistering pace forced a save from Mafoumbi. Meanwhile, Prince Afriyie continuously threatened Floriana’s backline with his speed, while Nigerian striker Stephen Chiemezie used his physicality to great effect, leaving Yameogo trailing on multiple occasions.
Floriana struggled to find rhythm, with misplaced passes and a lack of composure disrupting their attacking efforts. Just before halftime, Gonzalo Gamarra fired a low drive wide as the Greens searched for an equalizer.
Whatever coach Darren Abdilla said during the break, it had an immediate impact. Floriana came out with renewed purpose, pressing forward with intensity. Five minutes into the second half, Lonardelli whipped in a pinpoint cross for Matias Garcia, but his header failed to trouble Ngoubi Demba in Mosta’s goal.
Mosta nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Nathan Agius played a perfectly weighted through ball to Chiemezie. The forward lifted the ball over the onrushing Mafoumbi, but his effort rattled the crossbar, sparing Floriana further misery.
Floriana finally found a breakthrough on the hour mark thanks to a brilliant individual effort from Dunstan Vella. The midfielder drove forward with determination before guiding a precise shot past Demba, bringing his side level.
However, Mosta responded almost immediately, once again exposing Floriana’s defensive frailties. Despite being outnumbered, Afriyie burst through the heart of Floriana’s backline and went down under a challenge from Gamarra. The referee pointed to the spot, and Failla stepped up once more, sending Mafoumbi the wrong way to restore Mosta’s lead.
Just as Mosta seemed poised for a famous victory, Floriana were handed a lifeline in the dying moments. Vella surged into the box before being brought down by a sliding James Arthur, prompting the referee to award a third penalty of the match—this time in Floriana’s favor. Sasere stepped up confidently and drilled his effort past Demba, ensuring the Greens avoided defeat in dramatic fashion.
The draw keeps Floriana in the hunt but highlights their ongoing defensive struggles, while Mosta will rue missing the opportunity to claim all three points.
