Floriana registered their first win in the BOV Premier League 2014/15 campaign as a brace by substitute Matteo Piciollo enabled them to turn defeat into victory, beating Pietà Hotspurs 3-1 at the National Stadium. For the Hotspurs, this was the third defeat in four matches.

Pietà coach Noel Coleiro handed Rafael Xavier and Terence Agius a place in the starting line-up instead of Quelin Refalo and Luke Micallef. Andre Scicluna was included in the starting line-up for Floriana along with Joseph Borg and new signing Amadou Samb with Steve Pisani, Manuel Briffa and Matteo Piciollo all starting on the bench.

The Hotspurs managed to take the lead on the 33rd minute when Rafael Xavier received a through pass by Gabriel da Silva with the former placing the ball in the far right corner behind Senatore.

Floriana equalised five minutes in the second half as substitute Matteo Piciollo advanced into the area and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper David Cassar when served by Manuel Briffa.

Eight minutes later, Floriana forged ahead when an Amadou Samb effort was partially saved by the goalkeeper and off the rebound, Matteo Piciollo hit home.

Floriana sealed the issue on 67 minutes when off a Clyde Borg corner, Amadou Samb’s perfect header gave the Pietà goalkeeper no chance.

PIETÀ David Cassar, Cain Attard, Cristian Grech, Leonardo Fortunato dos Santos (55’ Orosco Anonam), Jurgen Pisani, Rafael Rodrigues da Silva, Rafael Xavier Zacarias, Kyle Cesare (64’ Luke Micallef), Terence Agius, Claudio Frances, Joao Gabriel da Silva (80’ Dylan Agius).
Subs not used: Miguel Montford, Cleaven Cassar, Karl Micallef, Neil Pace Cocks.
Coach: Noel Coleiro

FLORIANA Valerio Senatore, Andre Scicluna, Douglas Felipe Moriera Cobo, Emerson Marcellina (46’ Matteo Piciollo), Clyde Borg, Vito Plut, Joseph Borg (46’ Emanuel Briffa), Amadou Samb (70’ Steve Pisani}, Brooke Farrugia, Sacha Borg, Steve Bonnici.
Subs not used: Andrew Zammit, Luke Micallef, Neil Spiteri, Giovanni Galea

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Ass referees: Mitchell Scerri,Sammy Attard
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Bonnici, Amadou, Farrugia, Frances.
Scorers: 33′ Rafael Xavier Zaccarias, 50′ Matteo Piciollo, 59′ Matteo Piciollo, 67′ Amadou Samb
BOV Player of the Match: Matteo Piciollo

Sliema Wanderers are still chasing their first win after being held in a goalless draw by Qormi at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. This was the third draw in four matches for Alfonso Greco’s side. Qormi, on the other hand, collected a point after losing the last two matches.

Qormi had four changes from the team which lost to Balzan as Bjorn Bondin, Albert Bruce, Emerson Vella and Ryan Micallef replaced Roderick Sammut, Steve Agius, Mauricio Mazzetti and Joseph Chetcuti. On the other hand, with Alex Muscat ruled out injured, Luca Martinelli, Mark Scerri and new French striker Guy Gnabouyou replaced Beppe Muscat, Filippo Scozzese and Trevor Cilia for Sliema. Also making his debut was Italian striker Filippo Talato who was included as a substitute.

The Wanderers went close to taking the lead on 35 minutes when off a Gnabouyou corner, Michael Mifsud’s header was slightly deflected into a corner.

Seven minutes in the second half, Sliema went close once again with a Filippo Talato effort which was deflected into another corner. Four minutes later, Matthew Farrugia turned into a corner a Trevor Cilia effort.

One minute from time, a Trevor Cilia corner created havoc inside the area with a header by Bianciardi and a shot by Talato finally being cleared off the goal line.

SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Luca Martinelli, Marko Potezica, John Mintoff, Mark Scerri, Michael Mifsud (46′ Filippo Talato), Andrea Pisanu (46′ Trevor Cilia), Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Guy Kassa Gnabayou (90′ Peter Xuereb), Paltemio Barbetti, Stefano Bianciardi.
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Iousef Meli, Axl Xuereb, Carl Cassar.
Coach: Alfonso Greco

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Jonathan Bondin, Anderson Michele Quatrochi Santos, Emerson Vella, Duncan Pisani, Bjorn Bondin, Ryan Micallef (78′ Joseph Chetcuti), Zoran Levnaic, Albert Bruce, Alfred Effiong (90′ Steve Agius), Frank Temile.
Subs not used: Jurgen Cilia, Alessio Cassar, Roderick Sammut, Carmelo Farrugia, Pietro Viggiani.

Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Edward Spiteri
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: Mifsud, Martinelli, Temile, Scerri, Levnaic, Barbetti
BOV Player of the Match: Marko Potezica