Hibernians 1
Scerri 68
Floriana 1
Darmanin 70
Unperturbed by the controversy created by Qormi's protest over the registration documents of their Brazilian player Paulo Rogerio Da Silva, Floriana produced a gritty performance to take a point off leaders Hibs in a tense match at Corradino.
Much of Floriana's play yesterday was not pretty, bar the superb equaliser scored by captain Ryan Darmanin, but the Greens were resolute and hard to beat. Their aggressive approach inflamed Hibs who accused their opponents of resorting to rough tactics.
Although Hibs, whose coach Mark Miller was dismissed for dissent late on, had good reason to feel aggrieved by their opponents' physical challenge, the leaders were not at their best.
While Floriana were delighted with the draw, Hibs weren't as they squandered the chance to go four points clear of Valletta.
Orosco Anonam and Pablo Doffo returned for the Greens after suspension kept them out of the 3-1 victory over Qormi.
German keeper Steffen Suessner started on the bench but it was the omission of Dylan Zarb that raised a few eyebrows as the forward had a good performance against Qormi.
Miller made two changes from the team that hammered Marsaxlokk 4-1. Alexis Tekumu Mbongo came in for Jonathan Pearson and Ben Camilleri replaced Jonathan Caruana who failed to recover from flu.
The absence of Caruana forced Miller to modify his defensive set-up as Rumen Galabov was instructed to fill in for the Malta centre-half.
Mbongo almost scored inside the opening minute but he hit the ball over from a Terrence Scerri cross.
If anyone thought that this early opportunity would set the tone for an action-packed start, they were proved wrong as scoring chances were rare in the opening passage.
The exchanges were keenly-contested with Hibs holding a slight edge in terms of attacking football.
Eleven minutes from half-time, the leaders were unlucky not to put their noses in front when Scerri's header, from Edward Herrera's cross, cannoned off the bar.
In first-half stoppage time, Floriana issued a reminder of their own attacking threat when Christian Caruana, who started at right midfield, met a Clyde Camoin corner from the right but his header grazed the top of the crossbar.
At the other end, Owen Bugeja rescued Floriana when he repelled Andrew Cohen's volley.
Soon after the restart, Scerri, latching on to Cohen's pass, struck at goal but Zammit turned the ball away for a corner.
The start of the second half was littered with a series of niggling challenges from both teams to the extent that at one stage, there was up to four players lying on the turf.
Floriana might have gone ahead but Darmanin lobbed over. A neat interchange between Cohen and Failla ended with the latter hitting a shot that drifted just wide.
After an interlude of scrappy play, Hibs forged ahead midway through the second half. Their opener came at the end of a counter-attack as Herrera, having seen Cohen's lofted pass blocked by Sunday Eboh, quickly dispossessed the Floriana defender before squaring to Scerri who stabbed the ball past Zammit.
Hibs fans were in ecstasy but their joy was cut short after just two minutes as Darmanin brought Floriana back on level terms with a sizzling long-range shot.
Darmanin's gem strengthened Floriana's determination to stick to their robust approach, much to the frustration of Hibs.
Adrian Pulis had the chance to dent Floriana's confidence but blasted over after a powerful run down the left.
Two minutes from time, Doffo was expelled after his tackle on Failla earned him a second caution.
Doffo's foul left Failla clutching his foot and wincing with pain before being stretchered off the field.
Hibernians
M. Muscat-5, A. Pulis-5.5, A. Xuereb-6, E. Herrera-7, C. Failla-5 ('89 L. Grech), B. Camilleri-4 ('64 J. Pearson-5.5), R. Galabov-6.5, C. Callejas-7, T. Scerri-6.5, A. Cohen-6, A.T. Mbongo-6.
Floriana
G. Zammit-6.5, S. Eboh-7, C. Camoin-6.5, S. Bonnici-6.5, J. Borg-4 ('63 M. Briffa-6), O. Anonam-7, O. Bugeja-6.5, P.R. Da Silva-4 ('74 D. Zarb), P. Doffo, R. Darmanin-6, C. Caruana-6.5 ('86 J. Briffa).
Referee: Anton Zammit.
Yellow cards: Failla; Caruana; Borg; Doffo; Galabov; Bonnici; Anonam; Xuereb.
Red card: Doffo (F) 88.
BoV player of the match: Sunday Eboh (Floriana).