Igor Coronado notched a hat-trick as Floriana defeated Hamrun Spartans to virtually secure their Premier League status. The Greens now lead the way in the Relegation Pool with twenty-two points.

For Hamrun, this was the seventh defeat from eight matches. Therefore they remain third from bottom, two points ahead of Rabat and three ahead of Melita.

Steve Pisani and Clyde Borg were missing for Floriana while Hamrun lacked Adrian Borg.

The Greens had the first attempt at goal on the 15th minute with a Trevor Cilia effort which was turned into a corner. Five minutes later, another fine Cilia effort was turned into a corner by Curmi and from the resulting corner, the Hamrun goalkeeper was prominent with a great save on a Tremarco header. The Spartans replied with a shot from outside the area by Massimo Grima which was neutralised by Warner but on the 27th, Floriana went close once again with a powerful drive by Gary Roberts.

Floriana finally managed to break the deadlock one minute from half-time when off a cross by Carl Tremarco from the left, Igor Coronado headed home past goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.

Six minutes in the second half, Tony Warner performed consecutive saves on Spiteri and Zerafa. The latter save brought harsh protests by the Spartans who alleged that the Floriana goalkeeper handled the ball outside the area.

Hamrun missed a good opportunity on 67 minutes when Terence Vella received an intelligent pass inside the area, controlled well but his conclusion ended just over the bar. Trevor Cilia concluded a good run with

One minute in added time, Floriana doubled the score through Igor Coronado who dribbled two defenders before hitting the ball past Curmi.

The game was not over yet and two minutes later, Coronado crowned a fine performance with another goal as he lobbed the ball over the Hamrun custodian from inside the area.

Igor Coronado was voted BOV Player of the Match.

HAMRUN Anthony Curmi, Glen Azzopardi, Roderick Fenech, Bledjon Guga, David Camilleri (66’ Luke Grech), Massimo Grima, Giacomo Favero (74’ Rodney Refalo), Daniel Zerafa, Ryan Spiteri, Loic Lumbilla (23’ Terence Vella), Emiliano Lattes.
Subs not used: Andrea Cassar, Melvin Busuttil, Dylan Busuttil, Gianluca Debattista.
Coach: Stefan Sultana
Asst. Coach: Jeffrey Mifsud

FLORIANA Tony Warner, Carl Tremarco, Gary Roberts, Owen Bugeja, Kane Farrugia, Trevor Cilia, Mark Spiteri, Brooke Farrugia, Thomas Paris (46’ Sacha Borg), Udo Nwoko, Igor Coronado.
Subs not used: Jonathan Debono, Ramon Bugeja, Luca Casha, Luke Scorfna, Francesco Guzman, Isaac Galea.
Coach: Iain Brunskill
Asst. Coach: Gary Howard

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Eman Grech
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: Zerafa, Azzopardi, Borg, Tremarco, Vella, Coronado
Scorers: 44’ Igor Coronado, 90+1’ Igor Coronado, 90+3’ Igor Coronado

Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com

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Hibernians moved on top the BOV Premier League table as they came from behind to beat Mosta 3-1. The Paolites lie one point ahead of Birkirkara and two ahead of Valletta before the latter two cross swords in Sunday’s big match.

Mosta lacked the suspended Kurt Magro and Ryan Grech and the injured Steve Bezzina and Steve Onyii Chiemeka. Jackson di Lima Siqueira and Marcelo Dias were missing for Hibernians.

Mosta took the lead on the 9th minute when off a Danail Mitev corner, Ferdinando Apap rose high to head home past Mario Muscat.

On the 32nd minute, off a corner by Andrew Cohen, Jean Paul Farrugia headed the ball down for Allan Kardeck dos Santos whose shot was deflected into a corner by Tyrone Farrugia.

Just before half-time, Jeffrey Farrugia brought Andrew Cohen down inside the area. From the penalty spot, Clayton Failla converted.

On the 69th minute, Farrugia saved partially a Rodolfo Soares effort off a freekick by Cohen and then blocked Bjorn Kristensen’s attempt off the rebound.

Hibernians took the lead on 73 minutes when Kristensen sent Edison Luis dos Santos through and the latter hit low past the Mosta goalkeeper.

Edison Luis dos Santos sealed the issue with another goal nine minutes from time as he beat Farrugia with a shot from inside the area when served by Kristensen.

Bjorn Kristensen was voted BOV Player of the Match.

MOSTA Jeffrey Farrugia, Ferdinando Apap, Tyrone Farrugia, Kurt Zammit, Bryan Agius, Mano Micallef, Jonathan Bajada (71’ Alex Cini), Danail Mitev, Fabio Vignaroli, Chikwadu Bruno Mbonu, Ugochukwu Okoro (39’ Samuel Kehinde)(82’ Carlos Campagnoli.
Subs not used: Noel Attard, John Paul Grima, Giancarlo Sammut, Chris Saliba.
Coach: Danilo Doncic
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

HIBS Mario Muscat, Ryan Camilleri, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohn, Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Johann Bezzina, Allan Kardeck dos Santos, Edison Luis dos Santos, Keith Tanti, Jean Paul Farrugia (66’ Ayrton Azzopardi).
Subs not used: Rudi Briffa, Scott Chircop, Timothy Tabone Desira, Karl Conti, Neil Chetcuti, Brandon Muscat.
Coach: Michael Woods
Asst. Coach: Darren Abdilla

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Sammy Attard, Albert Borg Cardona
Fourth Official: Chris Lautier
Yellow Cards: Jeff. Farrugia, R. Camilleri
Scorers: 9’ Ferdinando Apap (M); 45+2’ Clayton Failla pen (H); 73’ Edison Luis dos Santos (H); 81’ Edison Luis dos Santos (H)
Attendance: 229