Floriana extended their positive run to ten matches as they defeated Hamrun Spartans 5-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday. A win which puts them in third place, two points ahead of Valletta and one behind Hibernians before the latter two cross swords on Sunday’s big match.

For Hamrun, this was the third consecutive defeat as Jacques Scerri was making his debut as their new coach.

The Spartans had two changes from their last outing as Jorge Mesqueu Neto and Sergio Raphael dos Anjos replaced Mark Anthony Borg and Christian Maldini. Floriana, on the other hand, welcomed back Amadou Samb who replaced the suspended Steve Pisani.

The Greens managed to take the lead on the 5th minute when off a cross from the left, he took advantage of some hesitation in the Hamrun rear-guard and Amadou Samb placed the ball at the back of the net.

Hamrun replied with a Luke Grech header hitting the upright when served by Jake Grech from the right.

Eight minutes in the second half, Floriana doubled the score with a shot by Mario Fontanella deflected by Luke Grech past goalkeeper Fredrick Tabone for an own goal.

On the 58th minute, Floriana were awarded a penalty after Maurizio Vella was floored inside the area by Tabone and from the penalty spot, Nicolas Chiesa converted.

Hamrun Spartans pulled one back on the hour thanks to Patrick Teixeira Maia who slotted the ball past Haber from an ideal position inside the area.

Floriana restored a three-goal lead on the 65th thanks to Enzo Ruiz who hit home from close range after the Hamrun custodian partially saved a freekick by Vella.

One minute from time, Enzo Ruiz headed the ball home off a Maurizio Vella corner from the left to make it 5-1.

FLORIANA Justin Haber, Enzo Ruiz, Clyde Borg (52′ Antonio Monticelli), Maurizio Vella (89′ Andre Scicluna), Jurgen Pisani, Ignacio Varela, Alex Cini, Amadou Samb (78′ Brooke Farrugia), Nicolas Chiesa, Mario Fontanella, Ryan Camenzuli.
Subs not used: Matthew Grech, Jake Davies, Conor Borg, Mattia Zarb.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

HAMRUN Fredrick Tabone, Saturday Nanapere, Philip Chircop (82′ Luis Miguel Vergara Rodrigues), Luke Sciberras, Jorge Mesqueu Neto, Massimiliano Giusti (76′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Luke Grech (63′ Manolito Micallef), Leandro Wallace Motta dos Santos, Jake Grech, Sergio Raphael dos Anjos, Patrick Jean Teixeira Maia.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Glenn Azzopardi, Mark Borg, Trevor Cilia.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Mitchell Scerri
Fourth Official: Etienne Mangion
Yelow Cards: Varela, Samb, Vella, J. Grech, Jorginho
Scorers: 5′ Amadou Samb, 53′ Mario Fontanella, 58′ Nicolas Chiesa pen, 60′ Patrick Teixeira Maia, 65′ Enzo Ruiz, 89′ Enzo Ruiz
BOV Player of the Match: Maurizio Vella
Attendance: 548