Floriana joined Valletta in second place thanks to a 3-1 win over Santa Lucia at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Saturday.
Gianluca Atzori”s side is therefore five points behind leaders Hibernians but the Paolites and the Citizens have a game in hand. Santa Lucia, on the other hand, remain joint-second from bottom together with Gudja and Mosta, six points ahead of bottom-placed Sliema Wanderers.
The Greens took the lead on the 16th minute when off a cross by Andrei Ciolacu from the left, Jan Busuttil controlled the ball and beat goalkeeper Julani Archibald from close range.
Ten minutes later, Floriana doubled the score when Ulises Arias sent Andrei Ciolacu through and when in front of the goalkeeper, the latter served the unmarked Kristian Keqi who deposited the ball inside the empty net.
Towards the end of the first half, the Greens could have added another but Kristian Keqi hit the woodwork.
Ten minutes in the second half, Santa Lucia reduced the gap when Jamie Zerafa served substitute Jan Tanti on the right and off the latter’s assist, another substitute, Vito Plut, slotted the ball past goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov.
Floriana made it 3-1 on the 79th thanks to a Brandon Paiber penalty after a defender handled the ball inside the area.
Seven minutes from time, Santa Lucia were reduced to ten men after Alan da Souza Silva received a second yellow card for protests.