Sliema W.-Msida SJ 4-1

Sliema Wanderers were back in the groove after their reverse against Birkirkara, beating inferior Msida handsomely to the tune of four goals with plenty to spare.

Ivan Woods rediscovered his zest for goals and proved the match winner, scoring two first half goals which paved the way to victory, taking the Wanderers at par with other Premier League leaders Hibernians and Birkirkara.

Daniel Bogdanovic scored two goals as well and was an influential figure in Sliema’s win which was never in doubt. His forays on both flanks, dribbles, crosses and finishing were always a cause of concern for a poor Msida side which yesterday showed lack of cohesion and flaws in defence. Hard as they try to improve on their abysmal run of five winless matches, the Saints were outplayed by superior opponents and could have suffered a bigger defeat were it not for the woodwork and some profligacy by Sliema.

Msida’s line-up showed a raft of changes from the one which faced Marsaxlokk the previous week. Josef Mifsud was missing through suspension and Nwoke was preferred to the other foreigner Tagliaferro, to partner Babatunde in attack. Midfielder Roderick Bajada was making his debut for Sliema after leaving Msida during the week. They were further handicapped with Pullicino’s injury and his forced substitution after only five minutes.

Sliema also made some changes from the side which lost to Birkirkara. Brincat was suspended, but Giglio made his return in midfield. Muscat started the match in defence while Chetcuti made way for newcomer Bajada. Doncic was exiled to the bench.

Sliema began like an express train, hurtling forward en masse. Within the first minute Anonam shot wide in front of goal, after connecting to Bogdanovic’s cross from the left.

On Bogdanovic’s incursion and cross from the right, Woods missed co-ordination in front of goal and Turner shot the loose ball over. And when Theuma failed to clear another Bogdanovic teasing cross, Woods’ effort was blocked by Clint Micallef.

Ivan Woods finally scored after 18 minutes when he the ball low past the helpless Borg after a Turner cross from the left caused more panic in the Msida defence.

Looking jaded and short of confidence, Msida collapsed on 38 minutes, undone by a Sliema move of simple beauty.

Bogdanovic flicked the ball forward for the advancing Muscat on the right flank, for Ivan Woods to volley in the cross at the top of the net.

Msida desperately tried to breathe life back, creating two openings just before the break. But Zongo shot off target and Babatunde’s powerful drive was well blocked by Sliema keeper Akanji.

The Wanderers remained the more menacing after the interval. They engineered another choral move after five minutes with Bajada playing a long ball forward to Bogdanovic, who laid it in Giglio’s path to shoot at goal, only to be thwarted by Borg’s good save.

On 55 minutes the upright denied Woods a personal hat-trick, holding out his low diagonal drive and then the Msida defenders blocked his rebound into a corner.

On the hour Babatunde produced a sprawling save from keeper Akanji with a firm header from a Sciberras free-kick.

But Sliema struck again on 69 minutes as a Debono long clearance was chased by Daniel Bogdanovic on the left and he advanced unhindered to shoot past a helpless Borg at the far post. This goal brought some protests from the Msida players for a presumable handsball by Sliema’s defenders on an Nwoke shot in the preceding action on the other end.

On 78 minutes Bajada’s through ball was missed by Theuma. Woods was clear but Borg blocked at his feet before Bogdanovic rounded up a five-star performance, beating Borg once more with a defiant strike.

On the stroke of time, Daniel Nwoke scored a consolation goal, going past Sliema’s central defenders and rounding off keeper Akanji before hitting the foot of the post and then steering the ball over the goal line. But that served only for statistical purposes. Msida run the risk of missing out on the Championship Pool.

Msida SJ: O. Borg, D. Theuma, S. Grima, M. Pullicino (C. Sciberras), C. Micallef, T. Farrugia, P. Fenech (M. Valenzia), L. Micallef, I. Babatunde (S. Tagliaferro), D. Nwoke, O. Zongo

Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, M. Dilello (J. Farrugia), B. Said, D. Debono, N. Turner (D. Carabott), R. Bajada, I. Woods, O. Anonam (C. Mattocks), S. Giglio, D. Bogdanovic

Referee: A. Azzopardi Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, J. Camilleri 4th official: I. Miller

Scorers: I. Woods (2), D. Bogdanovic (2), D. Nwoke

Yellow cards: D. Theuma, D. Bogdanovic

Player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. D. Bogdanovic 2. I. Woods 3. A. Muscat