Floriana-Hibernians 1-1

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Xuereb, J. Caruana, A. Pulis, U. Edafe, P. Doffo, E. Agius, N. Chukunyere (K. Cassar), T. Scerri (J. Alcorse), A. Cohen (B. Camilleri), C. Failla

Floriana; S. Agius, J. Briffa, M. Sevasta, C. Ciantar, D. Pisani (M. Gauci), T. Cilia, C. Cassar (A. Mifsud), M. Brincat, M. Micallef, Y. Bolasie, R. Darmanin

Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst. refs: K. Borg, M. Debono 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: C. Failla, T. Cilia

Yellow cards: J. Briffa, C. Ciantar, E. Agius, U. Edafe, Y. Bolasie

Red cards: U. Edafe, M. Gauci

Player of the match: Mauro Brincat (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. P. Doffo 2. M. Brincat 3. C. Failla

Floriana were heading towards defeat, trailing by a late Failla strike, but deep into added time, Trevor Cilia struck to draw level and deny Hibernians that elusive win against the Greens.

The match only came to life in the late stages when Hibernians were down to ten men following Edafe's dismissal but broke the stalemate in a scrappy match.

Floriana also had substitute Mark Gauci sent off after equalising.

With Levniac suspended and both Mario Caruana and Krsteski still not fully fit, together with the injured Christian Caruana, Floriana coach Doncic must have had quite some selection problems ahead of this game. Ryan Darmanin started the match in attack with Mifsud sitting on the bench as Mano Micallef played wide on the left midfield. Sevasta played in central defence.

Hibernians, ominously for their opponents, were at full strength.

The first half was utterly unremarkable, producing just one strike on target when Scerri advanced towards goal but harassed by Sevasta, was foiled by keeper Agius, blocking on the ground in the opening minutes.

Floriana found it hard to penetrate inside the opposing area and midway through the half Bolasie managed to put a foot to Brincat's long cross but hit the ball slightly wide. Agius' rasping shot from a distance was slightly off target as both teams failed to break the deadlock by halftime.

The second half was equally lacking in excitement, with both teams showing moments of ineptitude and the game continued to flash from one box to the other in somewhat scrappy fashion. Chukunyere and Pulis both failed to conclude Doffo's free kick and Scerri's effort was saved by Agius.

When Cilia netted for Floriana on 65 minutes, the goal was disallowed for a hands ball.

On 68 minutes Hibernians effected a double substitution, putting in Cassar and Alcorse but Floriana went close on 73 minutes with a Cassar inswinging free kick from left which was punched out by keeper Muscat.

Five minutes from time, the unorthodox Edafe was sent off for a second bookable offence, but with a man down, Hibernians made the breakthrough two minutes later, as Clayton Failla finished off Doffo's through ball with an unstoppable shot.

But Floriana came back to equalise in added time as Trevor Cilia ran in from the blind side to hit Bolasie's cross from the left past Muscat, hitting the underside of the bar.

Before the end, Floriana also had substitute Gauci sent off for some retaliation.