Newly-promoted Melita earned a point in a 3-3 draw as they held Floriana in a highly-entertaining encounter from the 360Sports Malta Premier at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Saturday.
The Amateurs had managed to take a two-goal lead but the Greens staged a great comeback to go 3-2 ahead. However, deep into stoppage time, Melita scored a well-deserved equaliser.
Floriana coach Darren Abdilla had goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi, Thiagunho Santos and Fernandinho making their league debut but Franklin Sasere and Kemar Reid were unavailable. Clive Mizzi, on the other hand, handed new signings Kurt Bondin, Aldair Simanca and Marc Van De Bovenkamp Font a start while Jose Barragan was included as a substitute.
Melita took the lead on 8 minutes when Aldair Simanca headed the ball home off an Alan Borg Olivier corner from the left.
Eight minutes from the end of the first half, Melita doubled the score. Borg Olivier delivered another corner, this time from the right, and Andre headed home past Mafoumbi.
The Greens were quick to react and three minutes later, they reduced the gap thanks to Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, served on the right by Thiaguinho Santos, and his well-placed shot gave Gosef Mizzi no chance.
Floriana equalised on 63 minutes when Thiaguniho served Dunstan Vella on the right and the latter provided a great assist for Kyrian Nwoko to place the ball at the back of the net from close range.
On 70 minutes, Floriana went 3-2 ahead as Mattia Veselji pounced on a clearance by goalkeeper Mafoumbi and after avoiding a defender, he approached the penalty area before slotting the ball past the Melita goalkeeper.
However, four minutes in added time, Melita notched the equaliser. Ben Cassar released Jean Pierre Attard inside the area and the Melita captain slotted the ball past Mafoumbi.