Floriana and Hibernians played out a fiercely contested 1-1 draw at the Gozo Stadium, a result that left both teams with mixed emotions.

 

Floriana were eager to claim all three points to leapfrog Birkirkara at the top of the standings, while Hibernians needed a victory to secure a place in the Top Six. The draw meant Hibernians, sitting in third place with 17 points, now face an anxious wait to see if they have done enough, while Floriana moved level with Birkirkara on 19 points, though their rivals have a game in hand.

 

The match began with a bang as Franklin Sasere put Floriana ahead in just the eighth minute. The Nigerian striker capitalized on a precise long pass from Alexandro Kouros, muscled past his marker, and slotted the ball beyond Hibernians’ goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez.

 

Hibernians looked to hit back quickly, and in the 14th minute, Lucas Villela came close when his downward header from a corner was well saved by Mafoumbi.

 

Floriana thought they had doubled their advantage in the 27th minute when Carlo Zammit Lonardelli found the net with a stunning acrobatic effort, but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside, ruling out the goal.

 

Hibernians kept pushing and nearly equalized before halftime when Miullen unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box, only for the ball to narrowly miss the target.

 

The second half continued with intense action, and Hibernians nearly restored parity in the 51st minute when Villela’s shot flashed just wide of the post. Bjorn Kristensen also tested Mafoumbi from the edge of the area in the 58th minute, but the Floriana goalkeeper was equal to the effort.

 

Hibernians’ persistence finally paid off in the 76th minute. Substitute Aidan Martinis delivered a dangerous cross into the box, and Bjorn Kristensen capitalized on a defensive lapse to fire home the equalizer.

 

Floriana had a golden opportunity to regain their lead in the 83rd minute when Zammit Lonardelli set up Sasere in space, but the striker blazed his effort over the bar. The Nigerian forward had another glorious chance at the death but failed to make contact with the ball in front of an open goal, leaving the match locked at 1-1.

 

The result ensures an exciting end to the league phase, with Hibernians now left to wait and see if their 17-point tally will be enough to secure a Top Six finish, while Floriana’s fate at the top remains uncertain as Birkirkara still have a game in hand.