In a tight game played at the Tony Bezzina Stadium, Floriana and Balzan had to settle for a goalless draw.

Floriana had three efforts hitting the posts and Balzan also had their moments with Bojan Kaljevic also denied by the bar from close range, finally the draw result was a fair one.

But in the end both teams had to settle for a point each, with Balzan joining Gudja U in fifth place with 14 points while Floriana moved up to eighth on nine points.

In the first 25 minutes both teams struggled to show some sort of effort, where scoring chances were rare.

In the 28th minute, the first scoring chance came from a free-kick where Christian Rutjens saw his header coming off the top of the cross bar with Balzan goalkeeper Jonathan Debono beaten.

Balzan reacted and on the half hour, Uros Ljubomirac passed the ball into the path of Matheus Noguriera Albuguerque De Sousa whose header finshed just over.

Two minutes later, Bojan Kaljevic served Uros Ljubomirac but the latter failed to beat the onrushing Georgi Kitanov.

There were no other opportunities to report up to the half time whistle.

On restart, Floriana replaced Carlo Zammit Lonardelli and Andrei Ciolacu with Jan Busuttil and Lorenzo Trillo to add more power to their forward line.

Jan Busuttil was soon into action as in 48th minute he served Kyrian Nwoko who headed over.

On the hour, Balzan were unlucky when, following a Uros Ljubomirac throw-in, the ball fell to Bojan Kaljevic who saw his header coming off the bar with goalkeeper Georgi Kitanov beaten.

In the 65th minute, Balzan had another chance when Ivan Bozovic sent a teasing cross but Matheus De Souza failed to connect in front of the goalkeeper.

Fifteen minutes from time, the woodwork came again to Balzan’s rescue when a header by Jan Busuttil was partially saved by goalkeeper Jonathan Debono, with the ball coming off the bar.

In the the 80th minute, Balzan responded with a shot from a distance by Paul Fenech which flew just over the crossbar.

Ten minute from time, Floriana’s were unlucky when Lorenzo De Grazia met a cross by Kemar Reid and his thumping shot came off the bar.

In the closing minutes both sides kept searching for the winning goal. In the 86th minute in a solo effort by substitute Suleiman Jalu where he dribbled past Adam Magri Overand but his finial effort finished just wide.

In the 89th minute, Lorenzo Trillo set Eden Hershkovich but his header finished in a throw in.

Stalemate prevailed till the end of the match with both teams having to settle with one point each.

FLORIANA: Georgi Kitanov, Adam Magri Overand, Christian Rutjens (Zachary Cassar 53’), Oualid El Hasni, Mattia Veselji (Kemar Reid 65’), Andrei Ciolacu (Lorenzo Trillo 46’), Ezequiel Fernando, Owen Spiteri, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Jan Busuttil 46’), Kyrian Nwoko (Eden Hershkovich 65’), Lorenzo De Garzia.

BALZAN: Jonathan Debono, Ivam Bozovic, Samir Arab, Marcus Grima (Nikola Braunovic 55’), Paul Fenech, Uros Ljubomaric, Milos Zlatkovic, Mamcilo Raso, Matheus Noguriera Albuguerque De Sousa, Adam Bradshaw (Alex Satariano 70’), Bojan Kaljevic (Suleiman Jalu 76’).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

BOV Player of the match: Bojan Kaljevic (Balzan)