BIRKIRKARA-0, MOSTA-0
Birkirkara had two players, Moises Avila Perez and Shaun Bajada, dismissed in the closing stages of their dour match against Mosta which ended goalless.
The Stripes enjoyed the better of the exchanges but relegation strugglers Mosta defended stoutly to hold on to a point, their second in as many matches following their 0-0 draw with Marsaxlokk.
Birkirkara failed to return to winning ways after their 2-0 upset to Qormi on Monday.
Only five minutes from the start had passed when Shola Haruna, Birkirkara's Nigerian striker, cut in from the right but his strong drive ended wide.
Birkirkara goalkeeper Jorge Mora then pushed away Bryan Agius's free-kick. The Mosta captain was dangerous with another well-struck free-kick but he was again denied by Mora.
The early exchanges were balanced. Paul Fenech, the Birkirkara captain, produced a brilliant first-time shot from the distance but his effort cannoned off the crossbar.
Keen to get back to winning ways after their unexpected upset to Qormi, Birkirkara gained the upperhand. They would have taken the lead but for two fine saves from Jonatahn Debono who kept out point-blank attempts from Terence Vella and Haruna.
Mosta almost seized the lead against the run of play when Kurt Magro, pouncing on Dragan Perisic's short clearance, fired a menacing first-time shot that Mora touched away for a corner.
In the closing stages of the first half, Joseph Zerafa dribbled his way past a host of Mosta players before swapping passes with Avila Perez but the Birkirkara left-back's final effort was too weak to trouble Debono.
Inside the first minute of the second half, a header by Avila Perez, from Vella's corner, was diverted away for a corner. A free-kick by Bajada, who had replaced the injured Perisic towards the end of the first half, ended high as Birkirkara started the second half in attacking mode.
At the other end, Mosta's Ian Zammit cut in from the right before hitting a dipping shot that ended wide of the far post.
Trevor Cilia, who had replaced Vella early in the second half, ran clear of Yannick Ossok but sent his shot over the bar.
Birkirkara were unlucky not to go ahead 18 minutes from time. Avila Perez's left-wing cross landed reached Bajada at the far post and the Malta midfielder lofted the ball towards the centre of the box but Haruna's header hit the post.
Tension set in as the match moved into its final stages. Birkirkara's hopes of forcing a breakthrough all but evaporated when Avila Perez was sent off after he appeared to elbow Tisbi and Bajada soon followed him into the dressing room after earning a red card for two bookings.
Mosta defender Yannick Ossok was named BOV player of the match.