Rabat A                1

Floriana                1

Rabat A: S. Mintoff, I. Carapic, J. Caruana, M. Fuster, J. Felice, J. Armaro Negrin, D. Falzon (M. Licari) (Y. Cauchi), G. Gesualdi, D. Pendas, D. Azzopardi, C. Gauci

Floriana: T. Warner, K. Farrugia, O. Bugeja,  J. Borg (L. Casha),  T. Cilia, G. Roberts, I. Coronado, M. Spiteri (F. Guzman), C. Tremarco, C. Borg, S. Borg

Referee:  A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs:  D. Sultana, R. Vella

4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: I. Coronado 19, J. Armaro Negrin 46 pen,

Yellow cards: J. Caruana, O. Bugeja, C. Tremarco

Red card: B. Farrugia

Player of the match: T. Warner (Floriana)

TMI top 3:  1. T. Warner  2. J. Felice  3. I. Coronado

A draw always looked the likeliest outcome in this match asFloriana failed to make good of their better chances in the first half and Rabat Ajax were unable to exploit their numerical superiority in the second, after Brooke Farrugia’s sending off for Floriana.

A point apiece was a deserved one in the final analysis, although of scant consolation for both sides. Rabat had yet again to postpone their first league win and Floriana’s failure to win in their last six matches compounds further their problems on and off the field.

Yesterday, Gary Howard was Floriana’s third coach in charge for Floriana this season, following the stepping down of Stephen Azzopardi in midweek and the embarassing elimination from the U*BET FA Trophy.

Joseph Borg, Brooke Farrugia and Mark Spiteri were recalled into the team, replacing Duncan Pisani, Thomas Paris and Luca Casha.

They showed some good shape even because Rabat, who scored five against Sannat in the FA Trophy, were only a pale shadow of the side which showed such resilience in the league draw against Balzan, although their only change was Gesualdi’s inclusion instead of the injured Clive Brincat.

The Greens looked good value for their one-goal lead by halftime because they carved the better chances and kept Sean Mintoff the busier keeper in the Rabat goal.

Coronado was the first to test Mintoff with a low drive past the quarter hour, after picking  Spiteri’s pass from the right.

Floriana fashioned most of their attacks down the right, where David Azzopardi was at pains when often caught between Spiteri and Coronado.

Floriana forged ahead after 19 minutes, breaking a goal drought that lasted three competitive matches,  when Igor Coronado picked Cilia’s pass and capitalised on Falzon’s slip to beat keeper Mintoff.

Floriana kept up the initiative, probing for a second assuring goal. Towards the half hour Caruana cleared Cilia’s cross in the path of Roberts, who put his effort wide.

With halftime looming, Spiteri went past Azzopardi with alarming ease but his cross found nobody to connect. Cilia again tested the Rabat keeper with a low drive on Coronado’s cross and then again a Brooke Farrugia shot was deflected off Carapic’s outstretched body into a corner.

Rabat put in new signing Malcolm Licari in attack for the second period and the substitute immediately made an impact on the game. Licari’s first timer on Negrin’s cross hit Brooke Farrugia’s outstretched arm to earn a penalty. The referee also sent off the Floriana defender as Jose Negrin converted from the spot.

Floriana were forced to make a tactical substitution, pulling off Spiteri to put in Francesco Guzman in defence as Rabat tried to exploit their numerical superiority as they dominated possession. But they were frustrated by Warner’s heroics in the Floriana goal and the profligacy of their forwards, especially Negrin.

The Floriana keeper turned into corners a Pendsas shot and a Felice swerving free kick, before he rushed off his line to thwart Negrin, when put through inside the Floriana area, before Bugeja cleared the danger. After some good work by Pendas  from the byeline on the left, his effort was turned into a corner by Warner.

Floriana only looked menacing on 70 minutes when a Coronado cross was headed by Guzman from close range, for Gesualdi to clear off the line.

Licari was substituted seven minutes later with a groin injury, but Rabat remained the more dangerous. Wasteful Negrin shot Fuster’s pass wide and the Rabat forward was denied by Warner in the dying minutes as the Floriana shot stopper also held out Felice’s last desperate effort to preserve a draw.