360Sports Malta Premier 2024/25 – MD23 Closing round
Sliema Wanderers….1
Floriana……………….2
Substitute Gabriel Sotomayor scored in the 93rd minute, securing a dramatic victory for Floriana, who played with an extra man for over a half. Despite the numerical advantage following the red card shown to Sliema’s captain after just twenty minutes, Floriana appeared unable to capitalise. However, a last-second goal from their January signing, the Bolivian Sotomayor, ensured that the Greens had the final say.
The first dangerous opportunity came for Floriana in the fifth minute, when a header from Oualid El Hasni went wide following a lateral free-kick taken by Jake Grech.
The Greens took less than eight minutes to open the scoring. From another lateral free-kick, Cedric Yameogo played the ball towards Matias Garcia, who, with his back to goal, struck a shot that found the net.
Sliema responded in the 20th minute when Simon Zibo delivered a long pass to Stephen Pisani, who struck first time but sent his effort over the bar.
Midway through the first half, Henrique Murilo committed a reckless challenge on Grech, for which he received a straight red card. The Sliema captain had already been booked for persistent fouling in the opening quarter-hour. This marked the second time this year that Murilo was sent off, following his dismissal against Żabbar St Patrick in January.
On the 30-minute mark, a long-range strike from Mohamed Awad was well saved by Christoffer Mafoumbi, while ten minutes later, a header from Vito Plut following a cross from Pisani went just over the bar.
Floriana had a golden opportunity to double their lead just one minute into the second half. A cross from Carlo Zammit Lonardelli was not cleared properly by Sliema’s defence, but Matias Garcia failed to keep his shot down from close range.
Floriana paid dearly for their wasted chances, as Sliema equalised despite being a man down in the 50th minute. From a left-sided cross by Wescley Matos, Awad let the ball pass to Plut, who weaved past the Floriana defence and scored from close range.
On the hour mark, Zammit Lonardelli dispossessed Myles Beerman and sent the ball forward to Franklin Sasere, whose low-driven shot went inches past the post.
Shortly after the hour mark, Floriana coach Darren Abdilla sought to strengthen the attack, introducing Elvis Mashike and Gabriel Sotomayor. The Bolivian quickly made an impact, attempting two efforts within three minutes of his introduction, the latter being a free-kick that narrowly missed the target.
With two minutes remaining in normal time, Awad launched a counter-attack, which ended with a shot from Wescley that went wide.
However, Floriana had the final say, scoring the winning goal in the 93rd minute. A header from substitute Sotomayor caught Sliema goalkeeper Kelvin Emeka Agu off guard, finding the net to secure three precious points for Floriana, keeping them at the top of the league table.
Man of the Match: Vito Plut
Referee: Philip Farrugia
Line-ups:
Sliema Wanderers: Kelvin Emeka Agu, Gustavo Alcino, Henrique Murilo, Jean Borg, Tedo Kikabidze (Adam Magri Overend 46 min), Myles Beerman, Simon Zibo (Geoffrey Acheampong 46 min), Wescley Matos, Stephen Pisani (Neil Frendo 76 min), Mohamed Awad (Edmond Agius 89 min), Vito Plut (Kyrian Nwoko 82 min)
Floriana: Christoffer Mafoumbi, Cedric Yameogo, Oualid El Hasni, Alexandros Kouro (Fernandinho Gomes 86 min), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, Gonzalo Gamarra, Zachary Scerri, Jork Becerra (Elvis Mashike 65 min), Matias Garcia, Jake Grech (Gabriel Sotomayor 65 min), Franklin Sasere
