Rabat   1

Floriana   1

A draw was a fair result in this game as neither team dominated the other. Both teams are still in search of their first win from seven games and they are in troubled waters as four teams will be relegated this season.

Floriana applied the early pressure. Leo Muscat served Matthew Bajada with a cross from the left but he drove over the bar from inside the area.

Muscat was then fouled outside the area and after Isaac Galea’s free kick, Andrea Hammett shot out from inside the area.

Later, Rabat keeper Andrew Muscat saved a free kick shot by Isaac Galea.

Rabat forged ahead in the 7th minute when Aidan Azzopardi made the most of a defensive indecision and shot past Greens’ keeper Luke Falzon after entering the area unhindered.

Floriana then mounted two further actions. Isaac Galea, after dribbling past an opponent on the left flank, executed a dangerous cross but the ball was neutralised by Muscat and Bajada served Glenn Tabone with a cross from the right and Muscat saved his close-range shot in two attempts.

The last action before the break was created by Rabat when Nicolai Attard was fouled just outside the area and Aidan Azzopardi drove well over the bar from the free kick.

The first two actions after the restart were created by Rabat. Nathan Borg was fouled outside the area and from Azzopardi’s free kick the ball was cleared to safety and Chris Schembri was then fouled outside the area and Etienne Scicluna drove well over the bar from the free kick.

In the 47th minute, Floriana restored parity when Bajada was fouled on the left edge of the area, the free kick by Galea created havoc in Rabat’s area and in the melee that ensued Glenn Tabone scored with a header.

In a Rabat reaction, Azzopardi served Schembri with a through ball outside the area but he was foiled from further progression with a timely tackle by Rodney Debono.

In the 69th minute, Rabat were reduced to ten men when Schembri was shown a second yellow card for simulating a foul in the penalty area.

In the last action before the end, substitute Darrell Baldacchino was foiled outside the area and from Debono’s free kick a Rabat defender cleared the ball to a corner.

Referee: Jude Utulu

Player of the match: Matthew Bajada (Floriana)