Floriana managed to take a fine two-goal lead ahead of the second leg as they defeated Shamrock Rovers of Ireland 2-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round at the Centenary Stadium on Tuesday.
The visitors shower greater determination in the opening minutes but the Greens managed to forge ahead just before half-time and after their opponents had a player sent off, they doubled the score to take a two-goal cushion for the second leg in Dublin in a week’s time.
A clash with the winner of the tie between Ararat of Armenia and Riga FC of Latvia in the second qualifying round awaits the winner. The eliminated side, on the other hand, would be transferred to the UEFA Conference League where they would be facing either FK Kauno Žalgiris of Lithuania or FC Drita of Kosovo.
Floriana coach Daniel Portela named new signings Kauan and Robert Muric in the starting line-up while another three new signings Gaston Romano, Ange Curtis N’Dri and Tomislav Gudelj were included as substitutes.
The Greens managed to take the lead one minute in added time – before the end of the first half. Fede Varela took a quick freekick, serving Robert Muric on the right and the Croat winger rounded a defender before beating goalkeeper Edward McGinty with a curling shot from the edge of the area.
The Irish were reduced to ten men on 58 minutes when Matthew Healy was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in less than a minute.
Floriana doubled the score on 79 minutes. Muric served Fede Varela on the right; the latter’s shot was partially saved by McGinty and Mustapha Jah placed the ball at the back of the net.
FLORIANA Guilherme Cioletti, Myles Beerman, Kauan, Kenan Dervisagic (66’ Ange Curtis N’Dri), Fede Varela, Robert Muric (81’ Tomislav Gudelj), Dunstan Vella (71’ Gaston Romano), Alen Kurtalic, Owen Spiteri, Mustapha Jah (81’ Zachary Scerri), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli.
SHAMROCK ROVERS Ed McGinty, Enda Stevens, Lee Grace, Dylan Watts (63’ John O’Reilly-O’Sullivan), Matthew Healy, Graham Burke (72’ Maleace Asamoah), Jake Mulraney (63’ Luke O’Regan), Adam Brennan, Cory O’Sullivan, Jack Bryne, Michael Noonan (88’ John McGovern).
Referee: Benjamin Brand (GER)