Floriana vs Haverfordwest: Overview

Floriana FC staged an impressive comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Haverfordwest County AFC in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round at the MFA Centenary Stadium in Malta. The Welsh visitors stunned the home crowd by taking the lead in the 27th minute through Ben Ahmun, but the Maltese side showed tremendous character to equalize through Gonzalo Gamarra just before halftime. Jake Grech then completed the turnaround from the penalty spot in the 59th minute, giving the Greens a slender advantage to take into the second leg.

The atmosphere at the Centenary Stadium was electric, with Floriana supporters creating a cauldron of noise from the outset. Despite the sweltering July heat, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees at kickoff, both teams delivered an entertaining contest that showcased the growing competitiveness of the UEFA Europa Conference League. The significance of this match was not lost on either side, with both clubs desperate to progress in European competition.

This result puts Floriana FC in a favorable position heading into the return leg at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on July 17, 2025. The Maltese outfit will be confident of defending their advantage, though "The Bluebirds" will be encouraged by their away goal under the current rules. The winner of this tie will advance to face Kosovo's FC Ballkani in the second qualifying round, representing a significant opportunity for both clubs to extend their European adventure this summer.

We showed tremendous character today. Going behind early against a disciplined Haverfordwest side could have been problematic, but the players responded magnificently. The equalizer before halftime was crucial, and I felt we controlled the second half well. A one-goal advantage is positive, but this tie is far from over. We know we face a difficult challenge in Wales next week.

— Daniel Portela, Floriana FC Head Coach

I'm disappointed with the result but not with the performance. Scoring an away goal in Europe is always valuable, and we proved we can compete at this level. The penalty decision was unfortunate from our perspective, but that's football. We're still very much in this tie and with our supporters behind us in the second leg, anything is possible.

— Tony Pennock, Haverfordwest County AFC Head Coach

Scoring the equalizer was a special moment for me and the team. We didn't panic after conceding and trusted our process. The coach reminded us at halftime to stay patient, and it paid off. We know 2-1 is a dangerous scoreline, so our job is only half done. We need to be even better in Wales.

— Gonzalo Gamarra, Floriana FC Goalscorer

European nights are what players dream about. Getting on the scoresheet for the club in the Conference League is something I'll never forget, but ultimately we're disappointed not to get a better result. The atmosphere was incredible, but we've shown we can compete, and we're confident we can turn this around at home.

— Ben Ahmun, Haverfordwest County AFC Goalscorer

Possession: Floriana FC 58% - 42% Haverfordwest County AFC

Shots (on target): Floriana FC 14 (7) - 9 (3) Haverfordwest County AFC

Corners: Floriana FC 8 - 4 Haverfordwest County AFC

Fouls: Floriana FC 11 - 15 Haverfordwest County AFC

Yellow Cards: Floriana FC 2 (Varela 33', Vella 79') - Haverfordwest County AFC 3 (Abbruzzese 57', Jones 67', McCarthy 88')

Red Cards: None

Individual Statistics:

• Jake Grech (Floriana) - 1 goal, 3 key passes, 91% pass completion
• Gonzalo Gamarra (Floriana) - 1 goal, 4 shots, 2 on target
• Ben Ahmun (Haverfordwest) - 1 goal, 2 shots on target
• Ricky Watts (Haverfordwest) - 7 tackles, 4 interceptions
• Guilherme Cioletti (Floriana) - 86 touches, 3 chances created

The statistics reflect Floriana's dominance in possession and attacking output, with the Maltese side creating more scoring opportunities throughout the match. However, Haverfordwest County demonstrated efficiency in their approach, making the most of their limited chances with a crucial away goal. The penalty conceded by Abbruzzese proved decisive in the UEFA Europa Conference League encounter, as Floriana converted the resulting spot-kick to secure their advantage in this qualifying round tie.

12' - First clear chance of the match falls to Floriana's Matteja Veselji, whose header from Grech's corner goes narrowly wide.

27' GOAL! - Haverfordwest County take a surprise lead against the run of play. Ben Ahmun capitalizes on a defensive error, intercepting a poor backpass before slotting coolly past Lucas López. Floriana 0-1 Haverfordwest.

33' - Yellow card for Floriana's Federico Varela after a late challenge on Kyle McCarthy in midfield.

42' GOAL! - Floriana FC equalize! Gonzalo Gamarra reacts quickest in a crowded penalty area following a partially cleared corner, firing a low volley into the bottom corner past Luc Rees. Floriana 1-1 Haverfordwest.

HT - Tactical adjustment by Floriana coach Daniel Portela, switching from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 with Grech playing in a more advanced role behind Veselji.

57' - Penalty to Floriana! Rhys Abbruzzese brings down Mustapha Jah inside the box and receives a yellow card for the challenge.

59' GOAL! - Jake Grech steps up and sends the goalkeeper the wrong way, placing his penalty into the bottom right corner. Floriana FC take the lead! Floriana 2-1 Haverfordwest.

67' - Alaric Jones booked for a cynical foul on Iago Mendonça as Floriana threatened to break forward.

72' - Double substitution for Haverfordwest as they push for an equalizer, adopting a more attacking 4-4-2 formation.

88' - Late pressure from the Welsh side, but Floriana's defense holds firm to maintain their slender advantage going into the second leg.

The UEFA Europa Conference League clash between Floriana FC and Haverfordwest County AFC marks the first-ever competitive meeting between these two clubs. With no historical data to draw upon, this inaugural confrontation takes on additional significance as both sides look to establish early dominance in what is now a budding rivalry.

While direct head-to-head statistics are unavailable, both clubs have contrasting records against teams from each other's nations. Floriana FC has previously faced Welsh opposition in the 2012/13 UEFA Europa League preliminaries, securing a win and a draw against Llanelli AFC. Haverfordwest County, meanwhile, has never encountered Maltese opposition in European competition prior to this fixture.

The key individual battle on the pitch proved to be between Floriana's creative midfielder Jake Grech and Haverfordwest's defensive anchor Ricky Watts. Grech's influence grew as the match progressed, culminating in his confident penalty conversion, while Watts worked tirelessly to disrupt Floriana's attacking rhythm with seven successful tackles.

Another notable confrontation developed between Haverfordwest's opportunistic forward Ben Ahmun and Floriana's defensive partnership of Federico Varela and Matteja Veselji. After Ahmun capitalized on an early defensive lapse, the Floriana defenders adjusted their positioning and communication, effectively limiting his impact for the remainder of the match.

This first-leg result sets up an intriguing return fixture in Wales, where Haverfordwest County will need to overcome both the one-goal deficit and Floriana's growing tactical understanding of their playing style. With European progression at stake, the second leg promises to deliver another compelling chapter in this newfound Conference League confrontation.

As this was a UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round match, both Floriana FC and Haverfordwest County AFC are at the beginning of their European journey for the 2025/26 season. This knockout format means there is no league table in the traditional sense for this competition at this stage.

However, in terms of domestic standings that earned them this European opportunity:

Floriana FC finished third in the Maltese Premier League last season, which secured their place in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers. The Greens are among Malta's most decorated clubs with 26 domestic championships in their history and are looking to improve on last season's European performance where they were eliminated in the second qualifying round.

Haverfordwest County AFC qualified by finishing third in the Welsh Premier League (Cymru Premier). This marks "The Bluebirds'" third European campaign, with their previous best achievement being a victory against North Macedonia's Shkëndija in 2023.

In this tie, the 2-1 first-leg advantage gives Floriana a 62% probability of progression according to UEFA's qualification statistics for teams winning home first legs by one goal. The winner of this tie will advance to face FC Ballkani from Kosovo, while the loser will exit European competition for the 2025/26 season. For clubs of this stature, progression through multiple qualifying rounds represents both a significant sporting achievement and a valuable financial boost.