Greens turn the tide to win Group

Under 17 Group H

Pembroke 2 Floriana 3

A very keen and hard-fought game which not only produced five goals but also many actions created by both sides.

Pembroke enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges in the first period while after the resumption it was a balanced affair.

The game was only three minutes old when Pembroke forged ahead as Larkin Attard capitalised on a defensive indecision and after entering the area he scored with a hard low drive past Floriana keeper Christopher Farrugia.

In Floriana’s first action Bradley Sciberras was fouled outside the area and the same player missed the upright from the free kick.

Pembroke threatened again when after a Braydon Galea flag kick Isaac Borg drove slightly out from inside the area and at the other end Kieron Azzopardi was fouled on the left flank.

Three minutes before the break Pembroke came very close to double their lead as Keon Trabelsi served Attard with a high cross in the area from the right but he failed to get his head to the ball.

A minute later Floriana equalised. Brady Agius served Bradley Sciberras with a long through ball on the left flank who, after entering the area, was floored and as the referee pointed to the spot the same player made no mistake with a hard low drive.

Floriana mounted the first two actions after the restart. Leo Agius released Sciberras on the left flank who then set substitute Brandon Bray in the area but a defender cleared the ball to a corner.

In the 63rd minute Floriana scored a second goal when Leo Agius dribbled past an opponent on the left flank, crossed the ball in the area and substitute Matthias Formosa scored with a header.

Hardly a minute later the alert Portelli neutralised a dangerous cross from the right by Formosa after he was put through by Brandon Bray.

Pembroke equalised in the 73rd minute as Nathan Camilleri dribbled his way past a defender and after entering the area he scored with a low diagonal shot.

Floriana reacted. Sciberras was fouled on the left flank and Portelli fisted the ball away following the free kick by substitue Kieron Fenech. In the first minute of added time Floriana scored the winner as Bray entered the area after dribbling past a defender and scored with a hard low drive.

Pembroke: N.Portelli, N.Camilleri, K.Gatt, K.Trabelsi (K.Blihi 72), K.Sciberras Balbi, B.Galea, I.Borg (J.Dougall 58), L.Attard, L.Falzon (S.Mallia 78), D.Grima (J.Busuttil 72), B.Scerri

Floriana: C.Farrugia, M.Agius, B.Sciberras (K.Fenech 33), B.Sciberras, B.Agius (E.Schembri 70), L.Agius (D.Simpson 82), K.Azzopardi (M.Formosa 69), A.Garcia, I.Galea, R.Mifsud Grech, M.Piscopo (B.Bray 41),

Referee: Gerard Grima