Floriana 0
Birkirkara 0
For a team that are chasing runaway leaders Hibernians, Birkirkara displayed little urgency for much of this tight encounter.
The absence of strikers Eliandro, injured, and Nasser Maachi, who was left out of the squad, hardly aided Birkirkara’s cause as the Stripes lacked firepower, moreso as Rafael Ledesma, assigned probing duties behind youngster Kurt Zammit, was a shadow of his usual self.
Birkirkara’s attacking inertia was in contrast with Floriana’s flair up front as coach Giovanni Tedesco unleashed his formidable trio of Matteo Piciollo, Vito Plut and Amadou Samb.
Samb was a constant threat to the Birkirkara defence as the Greens, themselves on a roll and pushing for a top-four finish, produced the better chances only to be undone by wayward finishing and a point-blank save from Justin Haber in the first half.
The Stripes did improve after the break, especially when Rowen Muscat and Ryan Camenzuli began venturing forward from midfield, but it was a case of too little too late.
Although Floriana had created the better opportunities, they were the happier side at the end as the result ensured that they remained fourth. No wonder that the Greens fans were joined by those of Hibs in embracing the outcome as the draw effectively ended Birkirkara’s flickering title hopes.
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit, who included Bosnian goalkeeper Mirza Hamzabegovic among the substitutes as Ini Aktpan was serving suspension, awarded a first-team recall to Edmond Agius who stepped in for the suspended Paul Fenech. The onus of shielding the back four fell on Rowen Muscat in a 4-1-3-2 formation.
The tactical module chosen by Tedesco was 4-3-3 with Piciollo and Samb playing either side of Plut.
After a quiet opening, a prolonged Floriana raid had the Birkirkara defence in a spot of bother. Piciollo twisted and turned inside the box before dragging in a cross that flew across the face of goal, just eluding the incoming Samb at the far post.
Floriana goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona then made a routine save from Mauricio Mazzetti’s header after the Argentine had connected with Agius’s set-piece cross.
The rate of scoring chances increased. Floriana’s attacking threat came to the fore again when Piciollo, latching on to a fine pass from Samb, nipped behind the back-tracking Birkirkara defence but his grounder was off target.
The Greens remained the more dangerous side. Samb’s progression took him past a posse of players before he passed to Steve Pisani who released Piciollo but the Italian’s effort was wide.
Starting on the right wing, Shola Shodiya Haruna was under instructions to drift infield in support of the forwards but Birkirkara were struggling to make inroads.
With five minutes of the first half remaining, Floriana fashioned a great chance as Plut, unmarked on the left, darted into the box and squared to Piciollo who looked odds-on to score but his first-time attempt drew a smart save from the alert Haber.
There was another scare for Birkirkara on the cusp of half-time as Pisani’s corner was headed on by Mano Micallef but Conor Borg’s effort was deflected on to a post.
Referee Philip Farrugia incurred the ire of Floriana three minutes into the second half when turning down their appeals for a penalty after Piciollo appeared to have been tripped by Agius inside the box.
Agius then caught attention for the right reasons as his free-kick soared above Floriana’s defensive wall but Calleja Cremona fisted the ball over the bar.
The lively Samb should have done better when served by Plut but he ran into a wide position and hit his shot badly.
At the other end, Rowen Muscat laid the ball to Camenzuli but the Birkirkara winger rifled wide and high.
The response from Floriana saw Samb advance into the box but his drive took a deflection and Pisani’s follow-on shot was blocked.
Samb’s agility made him an awkward customer for Mazzetti. On one occasion, Samb charged past the Argentine but his overhit cross landed behind Plut.
Birkirkara had a glorious chance to score when Rowen Muscat’s grounder from outside the box glanced off Calleja Cremona who had strayed off his line. The ball looked destined to bobble into the net but Ryan Scicluna, who had just come on for Joseph Zerafa, elected to apply the final touch only to be flagged offside.
Piciollo then miscued his effort following a fine solo move.
With seven minutes left, Birkirkara’s Zammit volleyed high after getting on the end of Zach Muscat’s cross. In stoppage time, Mazzetti went close for Birkirkara but his shot flew over the crossbar.
Floriana
M. Calleja Cremona-6.5, Douglas-6, E. Marcelina-7, S. Pisani-6.5, Clyde Borg-5, V. Plut-6.5 (67 I. Coronado-5), M. Piciollo-7, Conor Borg-6, E. Briffa-6, A. Samb-8, M. Micallef-5.5.
Birkirkara
J. Haber-7, J. Zerafa-6 (62 R. Scicluna-5), N. Vukanac-6, M. Mazzetti-5, S.S. Haruna-5.5, R. Ledesma-4 (70 M. Bissi-5.5), E. Agius-6.5, Z. Muscat-6, R. Muscat-6.5, R. Camenzuli-6, K. Zammit-5.5 (84 A. Borg).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow cards: Douglas; Z. Muscat; Zerafa; Mazzetti; Bissi.
BOV player of the match: Matteo Piciollo (Floriana).