FLORIANA-1, BALZAN-1
Floriana and Balzan took a point apiece after their Relegation Pool encounter ended 1-1.
Both sides took a while to get going as a disappointing first half ended goalless but the game improved in the second period which produced two goals and a string of chances.
All in all, the result was fair and probably pleased both Floriana and Balzan as they maintained their significant gap on the bottom three sides.
Scoring chances were few and far between in a low-key opening. Balzan created the first opportunity when defender Aaron Agius cut in from the left before hitting a cross-cum-shot that sailed just wide of the far post.
Tony Warner, the Floriana goalkeeper, then blocked a shot by Dylan Grima.
Floriana's first chance came on 21 minutes when Igor Coronado set off on a good run through the middle but his shot was wide.
Six minutes later, Warner punched away a dangerous Renato Conceicao cross from a left-wing free-kick as the game finally showed signs of coming to life.
Balzan's Christian Caruana made good progress on the left before serving Darmanin whose central shot was easily blocked by Warner.
Two minutes past the half-hour, Coronado did well to keep possession despite being surrounding by a host of Floriana players. The Brazilian passed to Pisani in the box but the latter's cross from the right landed in an area where there were no Floriana players.
Eight minutes of the first half remaining, Elie Moises N'Dekre's cross from the right dropped in the six-yard box but Warner managed to push the ball away from the advancing Darmanin.
The Floriana goalkeeper made another good save minutes later when beating away Jacob Borg's angled drive.
Subdued for most of the first half, Floriana were a transformed team after the break. This was evident when Trevor Cilia made a surging run into the box but his firm drive was pushed away by Daniel Martinez, the Balzan goalkeeper. Cilia was first to the loose ball but he mishit his shot.
Floriana stuck to their attacking game. Receiving a pass from Coronado a minute past the hour, Nwoko dribbled past two challenges before firing a low shot that grazed the near post.
The Greens' pressure yielded an opener on 66 minutes. Latching onto a pass from Brooke Farrugia, Coronado sped into the box, evaded his marker and beat Martinez with a perfect lob.
Balzan were down but not out. They levelled 19 minutes from time when N'Dekre released Ryan Darmanin who turned before ramming his shot past Warner.
The Reds threatened again when Grima raced into the box from the right but his cross was cleared by Floriana. The loose ball dropped to Caruana but his effort was blocked.
At the other end, Nwoko headed over from Cilia's corner before Darmanin hit the crossbar for Balzan after getting on the end of Firas Aboulezz's corner.
Coronado was named BOV player of the match.