TARXIEN RAINBOWS- 0
SLIEMA WANDERERS- 3
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, E. Baker, E. Marcelina, D. Ponce, A. Nilsson, A. Agius (J. Galea), S. Prendes (A. Azzopardi) , D. Zerafa, A. Alves (D. Micallef), S. Borg, K. Zammit
Sliema W: G. Sarao, A. Muscat, D. Dos Santos (R. Spiteri), P. Xuereb, L. Incorvaia (J. Mintoff), M. Scerri (G. Aquilina), M. Muchardi, R. Duarte, J. Pearson, F. Temile, S. Bianciardi
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, S. Attard
Additional asst.refs: T. Farrugia Cann, S. Pace
4th official: D. Sultana
Scorers: D. Dos Santos 23, L. Incorvaia 37, M. Scerri 63
Yellow cards: S. Borg, A. Agius, D. Zerafa
Attendance: 664
SILVIO VELLA
Sliema Wanderers’pursuit of this season’s FA Trophy remains intact as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows in yesterday’s semi final at Ta’ Qali to reach their fifth final in these past ten years.
Holders and record winners Sliema are in search of a 22nd win in this competition, as a new trophy is at stake, and will meet eternal rivals Floriana in next week’s final.
The truth is that Tarxien, a team in crisis, could not cope when Sliema played with such drive and motivation, when Muchardi and Scerri passed the ball with such distinction and every single player in blue played at the point of maximum expression.
There were notable absentees from both sides. Sliema’s forward Jean Paul Farrugia and Tarxien’s midfielder Triston Caruana were suspended. Frank Temile played in the Sliema attack while Andrew Agius started in the Tarxien midfield.
The sides went into this semi-final in contrasting fortunes. Since beating Balzan, after extra time, in the quarter final in February, Tarxien won only one of 11 league matches. Ominously for their opponents, the Wanderers remained unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches, winning six of them.
The difference between the two sides did not show for the first part of the opening half, that offered very little in terms of scoring opportunities.
But Sliema played like a side in a hurry and it was from their first meaningful attack, after 23 minutes, that Denni Dos Santos put them in front, heading in a flaoting Duarte free kick from the right.
The tone had been set and from that moment it was Sliema controlling the proceedings and the Rainbows chasing the game.
Showing more confidence, a Denni shot from a distance was well saved by keeper Cassar.
Tarxien had to rely on the fast pace of Alex Alves down the right flank to really threaten. Their first reaction in fact came from the same player past the half hour, his shot from the edge of the area going slightly over.
On 35 minutes Nilsson ran inside the Sliema area to Alves’ pass but could only shhot tamely at the goalkeeper.
Apart from those chances, this was all about it for Tarxien until the interval as they conceded the second goal, on 37 minutes, in much similar fashion as the first. Duarte was again the provider of a deep free kick with other defender Leonardo Incorvaia heading in this time.
On the stroke of halftime, Sliema were forced to substitute the injured Denni and replace him with Ryan Spiteri.
(Photos Domenic Aquilina)
But that did not disrupt their momentum although Tarxien hinted to a reaction soon after the restart. Baker arrived fractionally late on a Marcelina free kick from the left. The Rainbows also introduced Julian Galea on the hour.
The contest was over on 63 minutes. Temile’s splitting pass set Mark Scerri going inside the Tarxien area to beat the onrushing keeper Cassar with a low drive.
The rest of the afternoon for Tarxien was an exercise in damage limitation. On 83 minutes Muchardi played a pass to Spiteri whose shot was held out by the outstretched Tarxien keeper.
But it would be harsh to say Tarxien did not try to get at least a consolation goal, after Sliema had effected all their substitutions, in the late stages.
They ended the match on the attack. Substitute Azzopardi had two efforts turned into a corner by the Sliema keeper Sarao, who was only called into action in the dying minutes.
Tarxien’s best chance came three minutes from the end. Nilsson played the ball wide to the unmarked Ponce whose effort from inside the Sliema area was blocked by Sarao.
SK Victoria W. 1
Floriana 3
SK Victoria W.: M. Towns, I. Xuereb, A. Komljenovic, SF Bajada (M. Azzopardi), S. Draskovic, D. Mercieca, P. Dordevic, F. Giarrizzo, S. Harland (C.Sciortino), I. Grkajac, M. Raskovic.
Floriana: J. Haber, A. Scicluna, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz (A. Cini), S. Pisani, I. Varela, S. Nayar, M. Vella (C. Borg), N. Chiesa (J. Stenson), M. Fontanella, R. Camenzuli.
Referee: C. Pisani.
Asst refs: C. Francalanza, P. Abela.
Additional Asst refs: S. Spiteri, E. Grech.
4th official: R. Aquilina.
Scorers: S. Pisani 2 (one penalty), F. Giarrizzo,
Yellow cards: E. Ruiz, S. Bajada, D. Mercieca, R. Camenzuli,
Red card: F. Giarrizzo.
Attendance: 1,150.
Henry Brincat
Floriana made sure of their place in the final against eternal rivals Sliema as they beat a strong challenge from SK Victoria Wanderers at the Gozo Stadium yesterday.
The Greens won 3-1 with Steve Pisani scoring two goals, one of which a penalty and the other being netted by man of the match Mauricio Vella – he certainly deserved the standing ovation when substituted.
It was undoubtedly a deserved win for the Greens, although they had to wait till the second half to make sure of their victory. They were a superior outfit, but I admired this Gozitan side – the first to reach the Trophy semifinals in the history of local football. They were the underdogs, but they fought gallantly and only threw in the towel after conceding a third goal.
The match attracted a sizeable crowd at the Gozo Stadium with Floriana fans packing one side of the main stand and hundreds more at the other side of the stand.
Trouble appeared to be breaking loose when the Gozitans equalised, and the police had a tough task to avoid a deteriorating situation.
Even before the start of the match, it was evident that the Gozo Stadium’s main stand was inadequate for that large number of fans. Several of them had to wait for a long time before entering their side of the stand. I wonder why the authorities did not open the stand on the far side – it would have made a big difference.
In the first half, the Greens showed superiority and created much more than their opponents, but at the interval it was 1-1.
Floriana took the lead deservedly midway through, but then, on the stroke of half-time, SK Victoria obtained an equaliser.
It was evident that the Gozitans’ ploy was that of defending stubbornly and operating on the break. In those opening 45 minutes, the plan adopted by coach Mark Buttigieg was successful.
The match followed the same pattern in the second half, but when the Greens were back in the lead, there was no stopping them as they charged forward in search of more to assure themselves of a place in next Saturday’s final.
As expected, the Greens surged forward in attack and on 4 minutes, a long distance shot from Chiesa had Wanderers goalie Towns diving sideways to turn to corner.
Soon after, Varela won a tackle in the area, but his shot from an angle hit the side netting.
In the 13th minute, from an inviting cross by Vella, it was Ruiz who headed just wide.
On 18 minutes, as Floriana insisted on attack, it was Chiesa who tested Towns seriously. The goalie shouldered the ball out to Fontanella whose shot was blocked by a defender.
Floriana broke the deadlock on 24 minutes, when Varela made the most of a Towns lapse – he rushed out of his charge when having no chance to get the ball – and crossed over to the unmarked Steve Pisani who had little difficulty in planting the ball home.
The Wanderers missed a sitter four minutes later. From a Giarrizzo corner kick, Dordevic was completely unmarked three metres in front of Haber, but his header sailed just over.
On 34 minutes, it was a timely clearance from Ryan Camenzuli which saved the Greens goal as Raskovic was on the point of shooting at goal.
In the 44th minute, from a Nayar freekick, Fontanella headed goalwards, but Varela’s effort was brilliantly saved by Towns who made amends for his previous lapse.
Soon after, it was Fontanella who was through unhindered but goalie Towns rushed out of his charge and avoided another awkward situation for the Wanderers.
Floriana were stunned just before the interval, when SK managed to equalise. It was Mercieca who crossed low for Fernando Giarrizo to hit home past a completely surprised Haber.
The goal sent the Victoria fans into raptures apart from insults and objects hurled from the two sets of fans.
The Greens were again in the lead in the 53rd minute.
They were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area for an umpteenth foul on the in form Mauricio Vella. The same player hit home beautifully to the delight of the Greens fans.
SK rarely attacked, but in the 68th minute, a Dordevic long distance effort went over the bar.
Floriana increased their lead in the 71st minute. Vella, easily the best player on show, was through in the area, but was floored by S. Bajada. Referee Pisani showed no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot and Steve P{isani made no mistake to make it 3-1.
After this goal, the match had no further story as the Gozitans even finished in 10 men with the expulsion of their goalscorer Fernando Giarrizo for a bad foul on Andre Scicluna.
Varela was unlucky not to make it 4-1 on 81 minutes as his rocket hit the upright with Towns beaten.
In added time, even substitute Clyde Borg was unlucky with a fine volley that hit the crossbar before being cleared to a corner.