Floriana's Ulises Arias (left) tries to move past Dunstan Vella. Photo: Domenic Aquilina
Floriana denied winner by controversial offside decision
HIBERNIANS 0
FLORIANA 0
HIBERNIANS
I. Kone-6, T. Tabone Desira-5.5 (46 Z. Grech-6), F. Apap-6, L. Almeida-5.5, J. Grech-6, J. Degabriele-5.5 (82 Thaylor), B. Kristensen-6, D. Vella-6, A. Agius-6, G. Izquier-5.5, W. Domoraud-6.
FLORIANA
G. Kitanov-6, A. Magri Overend-6, C. Rutjens-6, O. El Hasni-6 (89 E. Callegari), Z. Cassar-6, K. Keqi-6 (88 B. Paiber), U. Arias-6.5, A. Ciolacu-6 (88 E. Rebenja), M. Garcia-6, J. Busuttil-7 (78 D. Agius), R. Camenzuli-6.
Referee: Alex Johnson
Yellow Cards: C. Rutjens, W. Domoraud, F. Apap, B. Kristensen, U. Arias, M. Garcia
BOV Player of the Match: Jan Busuttil (Floriana).
Leaders Hibernians maintained their unbeaten record in the BOV Premier League thanks to a goalless draw with Floriana.
With the point gained, Hibs have once again moved five points clear at the top while Floriana now lie in fifth place, three points behind Valletta, two behind Birkirkara, and one behind Ħamrun.
Eager to bounce back from the disappointing performance against Sirens last week, the Greens were clearly the better side.
They were constantly in control and, also, unlucky to hit the posts.
On the restart, Hibs improved but towards the end, it was Floriana who seemed to have notched the winner, but the goal was disallowed for a dubious offside.
Kristian Keqi and Jan Busuttil were back in the starting line-up for Floriana as they were preferred to Augusto Caseres and Brandon Paiber.
Busuttil impressed for the Greens along with Ulises Arias.
Hibernians, also, had two changes with Timothy Tabone Desira and the returning Leandro Almeida replacing Matthew Ellul and Thaylor Aldama.
Floriana held the initiative right from the start and after going close with a Kristian Keqi effort from the right which ended just wide on 11 minutes.
Nine minutes later, the Greens were unlucky not to take the lead with a fine Jan Busuttil attempt which beat goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone but hit the foot of the upright with the ball being cleared into safety.
Two minutes later, a powerful drive by Ryan Camenzuli was turned into a corner by the Hibs goalkeeper.
The Greens maintained the pressure and towards the half hour, Camenzuli released Andrei Ciolacu on the left but the latter’s conclusion just missed the target.
Hibernians were an improved side during the first half and on 63 minutes, Jurgen Degabriele failed to connect off an inviting cross by Jake Grech from the right.
Five minutes later, Hibs missed another good opportunity with Leandro Almeida concluding poorly from inside the area.
Ten minutes from time, Ulises Arias served substitute Daniel Agius whose shot from conclusion from outside the area ended just over the bar.
Three minutes later, Floriana scored what seemed to be a legitimate goal when Kristian Keqi beat Kone with a diagonal shot from the left.
However, the goal was disallowed after assistant referee Edward Spiteri signalled an offside.
