Premier League: Floriana win Opening Round with Zammit Lonardelli second half goal

The new league format gave its first verdict yesterday as Floriana won the Opening Round after beating Birkirkara with a Zammit Lonardelli second half goal. For Birkirkara a bitter disappoint‐ ment after dominating much of this Opening Round, but three de‐ feat in five matches in the Top Six part left the Stripes reeling.

The second place obtained by Birkirkara is not a lost cause since they have booked a place in an evntual play‐off for the title. On the other hands the Greens can either win the title straight away if they claim the Closing Round too, or else with yesterday's victory they have ensured a place in the play‐offs.

The final verdicts of this Opening Round will be known this evening when the matches from the Bottom Six are played and the two bottom of the table sides are known.

Then with the start of the new year the whole process is repeated agian, with all teams start‐ ing from zero points.

It is hard and too early to say if this format is a success or not. However the general feeling is that it did not go down well with the general public. We will have to wait and see for the final conclusions.

Back to yesterday's decisive match. Floriana were worthy winners having created the best chances.

In the first half they had efforts from Garcia and Dunstan Vella missing the target and two min‐ utes into the second half the Greens scored what proved to be the winner.

A well‐executed move between Grech and Garcia with the ball fin‐ ishing to Carlo Zammit Lonardelli who drilled home. Minutes later Floriana should have sealed it but Jake Grech failed to beat Volpe from an ideal position.

On the hour a Franklin Sasere header just missed the target and Birkirkara goalkeeper Volpe was again called in action to save an El Hasni header. On 72 minutes Sasere did all the running but his shot went over the bar.

Four minutes from time the Greens wasted another golden op‐ portunity when Sasere was again denied by Volpe. In stoppage time Birkirkara went close in a rare at‐ tack with Maicon's effort well saved by Mafoumbi.