FLORIANA 1
Sasere 8
HIBERNIANS 1
Kristensen 76
FLORIANA
C. Mafoumbi, O. El Hasni, J. Grech (73 Z. Scerri), E. Mashike (79 G. Sotomayor), D. Vella, M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli, G. Gamarra, F. Sasere, A. Kouro, G. Yameogo.
HIBERNIANS
P. Sanchez, K. Shaw, L. Villela, K. Fraga, Miullen (61 F. Falcone), B. Kristensen, D. Xuereb (71 A. Silas), S. Sorokin, A. Bruno (66 J. Degabriele), P. Henrique, R. Bruno (70 A. Martinis).
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Yellow cards Fraga, Yameogo, Henrique, Mafoumbi, Miullen, Grech, Vella, R. Bruno.
Floriana and Hibernians gave life to a hard-fought encounter that, however, failed to yield a winner as both teams had to settle for a point following a 1-1 draw at the Gozo Stadium.
Floriana were desperate to clinch all three points to move above Birkirkara in top spot while Hibernians needed all spoils to gain mathematical certainty for a place in the Top Six.
Darren Abdilla’s Greens looked on their way when Franklin Sasere gave them an early lead.
But Hibernians refused to throw in the towel and tried to fight back but it looked as though Floriana would hold on to their slim advantage.
However, 14 minutes from time Bjorn Kristensen pounced on a lapse in concentration in the Floriana defence to grab the equaliser to set up a mouth-watering finale.
But despite both teams’ efforts the stalemate prevailed, leaving Hibernians, in third place on 17 points, facing an anxious wait to see if they had done enough to book at Top Six berth.
On the other hand, the draw lifted Floriana level at the top with Birkirkara on 19 points, albeit the latter have a game in hand
Floriana were off to a flying start as they managed to take the lead after eight minutes.
Franklin Sasere latched onto a long pass from Alexandro Kouros, outmuscled his marker to slot the ball past onrushing Hibernians goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez.
Hibs tried to respond and on 14 minutes Lucas Villela almost grabbed an equaliser when from a corner action, the ball fell into the path of the Spanish forward who saw his downward header saved by Mafoumbi.
On 27 minutes, Floriana thought they had doubled their lead when Matias Garcia’s cross was deflected into the path of Carlo Zammit Lonardelli who fired the ball home with an acrobatic shot.
However, the assistant referee’s flag went up and the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.
Hibs tried to step up the pressure and on 35 minutes Miullen hit a thumping drive from the edge of the area that just missed the upright.
The match remained a hard-fought affair after the break with Hibs threatening on 51 minutes but Villella’s shot flashed wide.
On 58 minutes, Bjorn Kristensen hit a firm drive from the edge of the area but Mafoumbi was alert to block.
Hibernians’ persistence finally paid off on 78 minutes when they grabbed the equaliser.
Martinis send a teasing cross and Bjorn Kristensen was on hand to fire home.
Floriana had a good opportunity to restore their lead on 83 minutes when in a quick break, Zammit Lonardelli fed Sasere in space but the Nigerian blasted the ball over.
The Nigerian had another huge chance at the death but failed to connect with the ball in front of a gaping goal as the match ended in a draw.
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