Tarxien Rainbows and Floriana took a point each after a drab encounter at the Tedesco Stadium. Floriana made the brighter start and on 22 minutes Steve Pisani’s dipping cross was met by Amadou Samb whose downward header hit the side netting.

Tarxien created an even better opportunity on 25 minutes when Wesley released Alvaro who with only Vittorio Senatore to beat the Brazilian fired straight into the Italian goalkeeper.

The Rainbows were made to pay for that miss as on 29 minutes Floriana struck. Pisani’s long pass found Samb who outmuscled Kane Farrugia and the Senegalese striker chipped the ball past Mintoff.

But Tarxien’s response arrived on 39 minutes when Jorge picked up a short clearance by the Floriana defence and the Brazilian striker unleashed a powerful strike that flew into the top corner of the net.

Floriana were almost regaled with a second goal on 64 minutes when from a corner action, Alessandro Lopes Pereira inadvertently headed the ball towards goal following Pisani’s cross but the Rainbows defender was lucky to see the ball hitting the bar.

Both teams could have won it in stoppage time. In the first minute of stoppage time Jorge dashed into the area but his angled drive was well blocked by Valerio Senatore.

At the other end, Brooke Farrugia picked Vito Plut but the Slovenian forward saw his effort cleared off the line by Alessandro Lopes Pereira. Floriana winger Steve Pisani was voted as the BOV Player of the match.