Sliema W. 0
Senglea A. 0
Sliema W.: T. Aquilina, A. Muscat, M. Muchardi, K. Shaw, M. Scerri, I. Varela, R. Fenech (J. Mintoff 88'), N. Ashong (K. Sansone 73'), C. Pani, S. Biancardi, Y. Marzouk
Senglea A.: M. Farrugia, T. Marukawa, E. Mehdi Sidqy, Z. Cassar, L. Grech (M. Bartolo 90'), J. Gonzalo Leyton, R. Silva Santos, D. Venancio, M. Garcia, K. Cutajar (B. Schembri 79'), A. Mrsulja
Referee: Etienne Mangion
Asst refs: Edward Spiteri, Darko Stankovic
4th official: Glen Tonna
Yellow cards: Pani, Muscat, Gonzalo Leyton, Garcia, Cassar, Biancardi, Shaw
Player of the match: Diego Venancio (Senglea A.)
TMI Top 3: 1. T. Marukawa 2. D. Venancio 3. M. Muchardi
Sliema Wanderers and Senglea Athletic took a point each from an encounter which never came to life. In the end it was a fair result since neither team set any bushes on fire.
Both teams went into this match desperate for the maximum points. The Blues wanted the win in order to climb up the ladder into fourth place and leapfrog Hamrun Spartans.
Even for their opponents Senglea this was a must win match since the three points would finally save their status. A practically footballing miracle after a disastrious first round by the Cottonera outfit.
Senglea who had Augusto Caseres missing through suspension were coming from a win against St. Andrew's and two draws against Tarxien Rainbows and Hamrun Spartans. And Sliema after succumbing to a last ditch defeat against Birkirkara returned to winning ways last week defeating Qormi by the odd goal in five.
In the first round Sliema emerged worthy winners by a 2-0 scoreline.
Senglea held the initiative in the first forty five minutes but never really threatened. In fact the Blues rearguard blocked all that came their way preventing Aquilina from being tested. His counterpart Farrugia was also a non paying spectator in the first half.
In the 26th minute a Younes Marzouk free kick from just outside the area missed the target. With Senglea responding nine minutes from the break when Marukawa made his way into the opposing area and after dribbling round Biancardi , Shaw and also goalkeeper Aquilina saw his shot hit the side netting.
The second half was played on the same pattern of the first forty five minutes. The first threat came just past the hour when off a Venancio corner a headed effort by Romulo just scraped the Sliema's goal.
And in the 69th minuta a Marzouk free kick was cleared just outside the area with Claudio Pani trying an acrobatic shot which was blocked by the Sliema defence. On 77 minutes off a Sliema counter attack Marzouk squared towards Varela only for the latters shot to sail just over the bar.
Senglea replied a few seconds later through a Garcia grounder which was saved by Aquilina. Five minutes from the end a Venancio free kick from the edge of the area missed the target by inches.
In added time Sliema could have grabbed a dramatic win first when off a Mintoff pass Muscat's shot was blocked by the Wanderers goalkeeper. And moments later a Marzouk shot on the run was deflected into a corner.