Floriana come from behind to register second win

bov-premier-leagueFloriana came back from one goal down to beat St. Andrews 3-1 at the Hibernians Stadium to register a second win in the BOV Premier League, joining Balzan, Birkirkara and Valletta with maximum points from two matches.

St. Andrews took an early lead and after conceding the equaliser just after the restart, suffered another two goals in the final ten minutes to succumb to a second consecutive defeat.

The Greens had three changes from the team which defeated Pembroke as Enzo Ruiz, Ignacio Varela and Ryan Camenzuli replaced Antonio Monticelli, Alex Cini and Jurgen Pisani. On the other hand, for St. Andrews, Dean Camilleri and Ryan Darmanin started on the bench as they made way for Ante Bakmaz and Ivan Edgardo Paz.

The Saints managed to take the lead on the 6th minute when off an Ivan Paz corner from the right, the ball reached Godwin Mckay who deflected the ball past goalkeeper Justin Haber.

Floriana replied with a powerful drive by Chiesa which was turned into a corner by Jake Galea. On the 24th minute, Amadou Samb hit the foot of the upright with a header fro close range off a freekick by Maurizio Vella.

The Greens equalised two minutes in the second half when off a cross from the left, Mario Fontanella controlled the ball before slotting past goalkeeper Jake Galea.

Twelve minutes in the second half, Galea performed a good save at point blank on Fontanella.

Floriana however managed to notch the winner ten minutes from time thanks to substitute Steve Pisani whose powerful drive from the edge of the area gave the St. Andrews goalkeeper no chance.

Amadou Samb sealed the issue with a third goal on the 90th minute when the Senegalese striker, served on the left, rounded the goalkeeper twice before placing the ball at the back of the net with a cute lob despite a defender’s desperate attempt to block the ball off the goal line.

ST. ANDREWS Jake Galea, Michael Johnson, Karlo Kesinovic, Bong Won Che (81′ Ryan Darmanin), Felix Udoh Okon, Godwin Mckay, Ante Bakmaz (67′ Dale Camilleri), Joseph Farrugia, Nenad Belacevic, Kyrian Nwoko (78′ Jacob Walker), Ivan Edgardo Paz.
Subs not used: Dean Sciberras, Ryan Sammut, Liam Grech, Daniel Brandle.
Coach: Jose Borg

FLORIANA Justin Haber, Andre Scicluna (59′ Alex Cini), Enrico Pepe, Clyde Borg, Ignacio Lucas Varela, Maurizio Vella (46′ Steve Pisani), Amadou Samb, Nicolas Chiesa, Mario Fontanella (83′ Brooke Farrugia), Ryan Camenzuli.
Subs not used: Matthew Grech, Neil Spiteri, Jurgen Pisani, Daniel Agius.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

Referee: Stefan Pace
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Sammy Attard
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Paz, Scicluna, Johnson, S. Pisani, Ruiz
Scorers: 6′ Godwin Mckay, 47′ Mario Fontanella, 80′ Steve Pisani
BOV Player of the Match: Nicolas Chiesa