Balzan and Qormi shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw following a fiery encounter at the Hibs Stadium.

It was Balzan who enjoyed the better start and took the lead on 19 minutes when from a Justin Grioli free-kick, the ball fell into the path of Oscar Guerrero who rounded his marker before hitting  a low shot that gave no chance to Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

Scoring chances remained few and far between as the heavy rain pouring at the Hibs Stadium made it difficult for both sides.

On the restart, Balzan were reduced to ten men when Samir Arab was shown a second yellow card after a foul on Alfred Effiong.

As expected, Qormi were controlling proceedings and on the hour Anderson hit a firm low shot that just missed the upright.

On 63 minutes Effiong served Temile who sped into the area, turned past his marker but his rising shot finished just over.

Numerical parity was restored on 65 minutes when Mazzetti Latini fouled the goal-bound Piccioni and he was promptly shown his second yellow card and was dismissed.

Ryan Micallef, who had earlier replaced Chetcuti, was denied of a leveller when he met Bjorn Bondin’s cross but his header came off the bar.

The Malta U-21 striker was not to be denied though as eight minutes from time he took possession on the edge of the area and left fly a fierce drive that gave no chance to Sultana.

Qormi striker Frank Temile was voted as the BOV Player of the match.