Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/598356
54 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2015 Sport FOOTBALL Floriana, Birkirkara share spoils in goalless draw PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Floriana ........................0 Birkirkara .....................0 FLORIANA and Birkirkara took a point apiece in a hard-fought goalless draw at the Victor Te- desco Stadium in Hamrun. The two sides were determined to earn maximum points from the game but the two sets of players cancelled each other's efforts in what turned out to be an enter- taining match. The Greens hit the ground run- ning and were the better team in the first sixty minutes. However despite playing for more than 20 minutes with an extra man, Flo- riana failed to take advantage. They had the better chances but Birkirkara goalkeeper Justin Hab- er saved whatever was thrown at him. Birkirkara's Italian coach Gio- vanni Tedesco, who was facing his former team for the first time, had to make one change from the last game, including Ryan Scicluna for Rowen Muscat. On the other hand, for Floriana, Mauricio Villa replaced Clyde Borg who sat on the bench. The result allowed Balzan to retain sole leadership, one ahead of Birkirkara, Valletta and Hi- bernians with the Greens lying in fifth place, three points behind the leaders. Floriana created the first chance after 10 minutes with Mario Fon- tanella's low drive came hitting the side-netting. The Greens went close to scoring midway into the first half with Nicolas Chiesa's free-kick creating confusuin in the Stripes' box but Mauricio Villa's shot went over the bar from point blank distance. Late in the first half, Floriana's appeals for a penalty were turned down after Mauricio Mazzetti ap- peared to have pushed Villa but referee Mario Apap waved play on. After going a man down after the break, Birkirkara upped their efforts to increase the pressure on Floriana. However they were un- lucky not to take the lead on the 79th as Vito Plut's header hit the crossbar. FLORIANA Matthew Calleja Cremona, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Steve Pisani (62' Jun- inho Cabral), Mauricio Villa, Jur- gen Pisani, Matteo Picciollo, Steve Bonnici, Emanuel Briffa, Nicolas Chiesa, Mario Fonatanella (88' Firas Aboulezz). Subs not used: Tyrone Gauci, An- dre Scicluna, Darrel Baldacchino, Clyde Borg, Conor Borg. BIRKIRKARA Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Mauricio Matias Latini Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac (70' Marcelina Emerson), Ryan Camenzuli, Paul Fenech, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras (75' Ed- mond Agius), Ryan Scicluna, Vito Plut, Fabrizio Miccoli (35' Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais). Subs not used: Philip Schranz, Frank Temile, Kurt Zammit, Ed- ward Herrera. Coach: Giovanni Tedesco Referee: Mario Apap Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Chris Francalanza Additional Assistant Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Trustin Far- rugia Cann Fourth Official: Alan Camilleri Yellow Cards: Zerafa, Pepe, Z. Muscat, Villa, Bonnici, Fenech Red Cards: 68' Joseph Zerafa Scorers: BOV Player of the Match: Nicolas Chiesa