Floriana and Pietà Hotspurs cancelled each other in a 1-1 draw at the Hibs Stadium.

It was a balanced encounter that came to life in the closing minutes of the match.

Floriana had enjoyed the better exchanges for much of the first half.

On 17 minutes, Matteo Piciollo put Vito Plut clear on the right and the Slovenian immediately sent a low cross towards Steve Pisani who just failed to make contact with the ball just in front of a gaping goal.

Pietà responded a minute later when Rafael Xavier forced his way on the right before hitting a dipping cross into the path of Claudio Frances who hit just over.

Two minutes into the second half, Plut should have put Floriana ahead when the Slovenian was picked by Pisani inside the area but he incredibly headed over from routine distance.

On the hour, Floriana created another clear-cut scoring opportunity when Pisani released Piciollo who with only Cassar to beat the Italian striker lost his footing and hit the ball wide.

The Hotspurs threatened on 66 minutes when they were awarded a central free-kick and Frances’s curling drive just missed the upright.

With the match all but heading to a draw the Hotspurs struck the killer blow three minutes from time.

Kyle Cesare flicked the ball towards substitute Malcolm Licari, who had just replaced Xavier, and the Pietà forward was upended in the area by goalkeeper Tyrone Gauci with referee Lautier pointing to the spot.

Juergen Pisani stepped up for the kick and drilled the ball past Gauci.

But Floriana refused to throw in the towel and on 89 minutes they managed to restore parity.

 From a free-kick action, Pisani’s dipping cross was met by Steve Bonnici who headed the ball past Cassar.

Floriana striker Matteo Piciollo was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.