Despite having Kemar Reid sent off after half an hour, Floriana defeated champions Hibernians 2-1 to set-up a clash with rivals Valletta in the final of the Izibet FA Trophy.
The Greens were a better sideband after taking the lead towards the half hour, followed by an incident which led to Reid’s dismissal, they still managed to double the score before the end of the first half. Hibernians pulled one back late in the game but it was not enough to force extra-time.
Jurgen Degabriele tested Floriana goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov with a shot from outside the area on the 6th but the Bulgarian goalkeeper turned the ball into a corner. Floriana replied with a Kemar Reid effort which ended high on 22 minutes.
Five minutes later, the Greens forged ahead when Kemar Reid received a throw in by Matias Garcia and the latter entered the area and beat goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona with an angled shot from the right.
Reid was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a provocative gesture addressed to the Hibs supporters.
After going close with attempts by Ulises Arias and Brandon Paiber, Floriana doubled the score three minutes in added time thanks to a fine lob by Jan Busuttil from outside the area which gave the Hibs goalkeeper no chance.
Floriana went close to adding another on the 74th but Calleja Cremona blocked Ryan Camenzuli’s close range effort but a minute later, a shot from outside the area by Jake Grech was parried by Kitanov who also managed to neutralise an Alvaro Muniz effort on 82 minutes.
Hibernians reduced the gap three minutes from time when off a cross by Alvaro Muniz, Wilfried Domoraud headed home from close range.