Floriana and Rabat share the spoils

Rabat and Floriana had to share the points after they played to a 1-1 draw.

Floriana and Rabat both needed all three points but at the end had to settle for a point each. Photo Ray Attard
Floriana and Rabat both needed all three points but at the end had to settle for a point each. Photo Ray Attard

With this result Rabat remain at the bottom of the table on eight points while Floriana sit in ninth place on 24 points. Rabat are still without a win this season as they have 12 defeats and eight draws to show for.

This would be Floriana's first match under the guidance of manager Gary Howard after the resignation of Stephen Azzopardi earlier this week.

Floriana managed to take the lead on the 19th minute. Igor Coronado beat goalkeeper Sean Mintoff with his low shot to give the Greens the lead.

The score would remain 1-0 till the end of the first half even though both teams had great goal scoring opportunities.

Rabat Ajax were awarded a penalty two minutes into the second half when Kane Farrugia handled the ball inside the area. Referee Adrian Azzopardi sent Farrugia off and from the penalty sport Jose Luis Armario Negrin would score the equaliser for Rabat after he beat goalkeeper Tony Warner with his shot.

Rabat were unlucky not to take the lead in the match after some great scoring opportunities.

Substitute Francesco Guzman almost gave Floriana the lead again when his header was cleared off the goal line by Gaetano Gesualdi.

The match would end in a draw leaving both teams at the bottom end of the table.

Tony Warner was voted BOV Player of the Match.

RABAT AJAX Sean Mintoff, Gaetano Gesualdi, Ivan Carapic, Joseph Caruana, Justin Felice, Jose Luis Armario Negrin, Manuel Moral Fuster, Dylan Falzon (46' Malcolm Licari) (77' Yan Cauchi), Diego Carrillo Pendas, David Azzopardi, Clifford Gauci.
Subs not used: Jonathan Azzopardi, Neil Caruana, Kurt Muscat, Patrick Borg, Shaun Gauci.
Coach: Silvio Vella
Asst. Coach: Joe Galea

FLORIANA Tony Warner, Joseph Borg (87' Luca Casha), Owen Bugeja, Kane Farrugia, Carl Tremarco, Clyde Borg, Brooke Farrugia, Gary Roberts, Mark Spiteri (50' Francesco Guzman), Trevor Cilia, Igor Coronado.
Subs not used: Jonathan Debono, Luke Scorfna, Isaac Galea, Leo Muscat, Thomas Paris.
Asst. Coach: Gary Howard

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Roberto Vella
Fourth Official: Kevin Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: J. Caruana, O. Bugeja, C. Tremarco
Scorers: 19′ Igor Coronado (F); 47′ Jose Luis Armario Negrin pen (R)