Birkirkara fail to reduce gap

Birkirkara failed to close the gap on current leaders finding a resilient Floriana team full of energy and determination.  The game was a tight contest with the greens being the most threatening and Birkirkara only coming to life late in the game.

Ten minutes into the game in what was probably the only real goal scoring opportunity during the first half, Floriana's Matteo Piciollo made headway in the Birkirkara box before swinging in a teasing cross that flew across the face of goal.

Floriana goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona then made an easy save from Mauricio Mazzetti's header after the Argentine had met Edmond Agius's set-piece cross.

Floriana threatened again on 13 minutes when Piciollo got behind the back-tracking Birkirkara defence but his grounder rolled past of the far post.

The Greens remained the better side. Samb's run took him past several players before the Senegalese passed to Steve Pisani who released Piciollo but the Italian hit wide.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Floriana created a great chance as Vito Plut darted into the box from the left and squared to Piciollo who looked certain to score but his first-time effort was blocked by the alert Justin Haber, the Birkirkara goalkeeper.

There was another scare for Birkirkara on the stroke of half-time when Steve Pisani's corner from the right was headed on by Samb but Conor Borg's effort came off the post.

Three minutes into the second half, Floriana protested for a penalty after Agius appeared to have tripped Piciollo in the box but referee Philip Farrugia waved play on.

Agius made a more positive impact at the other end as his well-struck free-kick sailed above Floriana's defensive wall but Calleja Cremona pushed the ball over the bar.

Samb should have done better when freed by Plut but the Senegalese ran himself into a wide position and blasted wide.

At the other end, Rowen Muscat served Ryan Camenzuli with the Birkirkara winger shooting wide and high.

The response from Floriana saw Samb run into the box from the right but his drive took a deflection and Pisani's follow-on shot was blocked.

Birkirkara had a golden chance to score when Rowen Muscat's grounder from outside the box came off Calleja Cremona who had strayed off his line. The ball looked destined to roll into the net but Ryan Scicluna, who had just come on for Joseph Zerafa, hit home only to be flagged offside.

Piciollo skewed 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, Birkirkara defender Mauricio Mazzetti was marginally high with a swerving shot from outside the box.

BOV Man of the Match: Matteo Picciollo