Watch: Floriana held by resilient Balzan

BALZAN       0

FLORIANA   0

BALZAN

D. Golovic, S. Arab, T. Caruana, N. Pulis, I. Westendorf, J. Busuttil (90 M. Grima), A. Oluwatobiloba, L. Lukovic, V. Blasco (85 L. Jankovic), U. Akpan, R. Floro.

FLORIANA

C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, E. Mashike, D. Vella (46’ J. Grech), M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli (78 A. Garzia), G. Gamarra, F. Sasere, A. Kouros (78 J. Becerra), G. Yameogo, Fernandinho (58 G. Sotomayor).

Referee: Emanuel Grech.

Yellow Cards: G. Yameogo, R. Floro, D. Vella, G. Gamarra, J. Becerra, T. Caruana, D. Golovic

Balzan’s positive start under Andrew Cohen continued as the Reds earned a precious point following a goalless draw against Floriana.

Although the Greens held the initiative throughout the 90 minutes, Balzan followed their plan to perfection to keep their opponents at bay.

Darren Abdilla made two changes to the team which had defeated Marsaxlokk last week as Elvis Mashike and Fernando Junior were preferred to Jake Grech and Zachary Scerri. On the other hand, Andrew Cohen named an unchanged side after the win 3-0 over Naxxar.

After nine minutes, Floriana threatened with a cross by Carlo Zammit Lonardelli but both Elvis Mashike and Franklin Sasere failed to connect from close in.

The Greens had to wait until the half-hour to threaten again as Matias Garcia headed just wide off a cross by Alexandros Kouros from the left.

Balzan replied with a good move between Victor Blasco and Isaac Westendorf whose pass from the left found Udoyen Akpan but his close-range effort was blocked by Christoffer Mafoumbi on 36 minutes.

Three minutes later, Gonzalo Gamarra had a freekick from the right blocked by Balzan goalkeeper Golovic.

Akpan had a powerful drive from the right turned into a corner by Mafoumbi on 42 minutes and the resulting corner taken by Jan Busuttil was palmed out by the Floriana goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, Balzan were unlucky to hit the upright with a powerful shot from outside the area by Victor Blasco with Akpan’s close-range effort neutralised by the Floriana goalkeeper.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Fernandinho sent Gamarra through and off the latter’s cross, Jake Grech hit wide from the edge of the area.

Two minutes later, another substitute Gabriel Sotomayor, served on the left by a Zammit Lonardelli cross, controlled the ball well but concluded incredibly high.

Golovic came to Balzan’s rescue on 67 minutes, performing a fine save on a first-time effort by Elvis Mashike from inside the area following a short clearance by a defender. Three minutes later, a cross shot from the right by Victor Blasco was saved without particular difficulty by Mafoumbi.

A low shot by Isaac Westendorf from outside the area was parried by the Floriana goalkeeper on 74 minutes.

Golovic palmed out a cross from the left by Matias Garcia on 82 minutes and two minutes later, Mafoumbi performed a good save on Jan Busuttil, directly from a corner.

Finally two minutes from time, Mashike headed just over the bar off an inviting cross by Jake Grech from the right as Floriana were forced to settle with a point.