Floriana came back from a goal down to beat Gzira United 2-1 at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Sunday. A win which puts the Greens in third place together with Valletta, two points behind second-placed Birkirkara.
For the Maroons, this second successive defeat leaves them in the eighth place on nine points.
Gzira took the lead on the 4th minute when Mendoza stole the ball off Kristian Keqi and advanced before serving Yuri Messias who rounded a defender before slotting past goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov
Four minutes later, the Greens had an excellent opportunity to equalise when they were awarded a penalty after Luke Tabone brought Kristian Keqi down inside the area but from the penalty spot, Keqi’s attempt was parried by Justin Haber.
Eight minutes in the second half, Luke Tabone was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Ciolacu.
The Greens increased the pressure and a header by Arias was cleared off the goal line by Bohrer on 59 minutes and a Oualid El Hasni volley hit the crossbar.
Twelve minutes from time, Floriana levelled matters thanks to Andrei Ciolacu whose diagonal shot when served on the right by Arias beat Justin Haber.
On the 89th, the Greens notched the winner when a cross from the right created havoc inside the area and following a short clearance, Ryan Camenzuli beat the Gzira goalkeeper with a powerful drive from outside the area