Malta round-up: Floriana face Marsa showdown

Floriana FC won 3-0 against Naxxar Lions FC on Saturday while Hamrun Spartans FC lost against Marsa FC.

Comprehensive win
Floriana completed a simple victory against struggling Naxxar. They were 2-0 up within ten minutes as Jonathan Holland and Cedric Caruana both struck and things got worse for Naxxar when Etienne Barabara struck home a 23rd-minute penalty.

Friggieri winner
The win would have guaranteed Floriana a place in the end-of-season championship pool play-offs were it not for a late Donovan Friggieri goal for Marsa in the second game of the day at the Ta'Qali stadium.

Cutajar equalises
Hamrun had taken the lead after 19 minutes when Mauro Brincat's perfectly-floated free kick from the left found Graham Bencini unmarked in the penalty area. Nikolai Slavtchev missed a penalty for Marsa before George Cutajar finally drew Marsa level just before the interval.

Sultan scores for Hamrun
Fabioso Cordoso do Nascimento gave Marsa the lead after 72 minutes but Hamrun hit back through Stefan Sultan to cap the veteran's 313th game in Malta. Had the scores remained equal, Marsa would have missed out on the championship pool, but Friggieri had other ideas.

Decider on Tuesday
Saturday's results leave Marsa and Floriana level on 22 points and the two will now have to face a deciding game on Tuesday to see which of them get to play in the championship pool.