Sliema W: Bonello, Giglio, Ciantar, Muscat, Carabott (Lombardi), Chetcuti, Bajada (Mintoff), Svoboda, Mattocks, Nwoko, Woods
R. Bucharest: Coman, Badoi, Karamyan (Stancu), Griffiths (Petrescu), Grigore, Sapunaru, Burdujan (Vasilache), Constantin, Mattei, Stancu, Buga
Referee: K. Milan (Serbia); Asst refs: S. Jovica, A. Dusko, 4th official: V. Goran
Scorer: M. Buga
Yellow card: Stancu, Sapunaru
The Rumanians of Rapid Bucharest hardly broke sweat when yesterday they beat Premiere League runners up Sliema Wanderers by a solitary goal scored in the first quarter of an hour of a tepid and boorish encounter.
The match rarely rose above the mediocre as Rapid treated it as a training spin after having secured passage to the second round of the UEFA Cup with a 5-0 victory a couple of weeks ago. Sliema Wanderers were only looking at a damage limitation exercise after having been trounced away to the Rumanian giants.
The Blues found themselves under heavy pressure almost from the word go as Rapid were not resting on their laurels. In fact after just 12 minutes, Bucharest took the lead through their enterprising forward Buga who shot past a hapless Bonello from a good position.
The first half hour contained nothing much of note as Rapid were in absolute control treating the match as if it was a training spin. Players which looked quite impressive were the playmaker Karamyan and Buga who appeared lithe and fleet of foot.
Sliema had their first real chance on 31 minutes when a fine overlap by Alex Muscat produced a low cross that was cleared to safety before Woods could pounce. From the resulting corner, Svoboda produced a low shot that was however easily saved by Coman.
This sort of galvanised Rapid who could have doubled on 35 minutes when Badoi was clean through but Bonello produced a superb save off the former’s low conclusion. Seconds later a shot by Grigore was beautifully saved by the young Sliema custodian who was proving excellent in goal.
A curious incident occurred on 36 minutes when the referee gave permission to all players to stop for a drink in the debilitating heat. The rest of the half progressed at walking pace with both sides seeming to just honour the fixture.
Rapid Bucharest began the second half pressing for an early goal but the energetic Badoi was denied by the Sliema defence on 49 minutes. The Blues attempted an attack on 51 minutes but nothing much came out of Svoboda’s effort. Bonello again made an excellent stop off a rather weak effort by Buga.
Sliema countered on 59 minutes with Svoboda felled by Sapunarau but the former’s free kick went just over the bar from 15 metres. A few minutes later, the enterprising Badoi saw his cross shot end up just wide of Bonello’s left hand post although the Blues defence seemed to cover quite well.
Rapid continued pressing forward and had a good chance to double the scoring with a scorching shot by Vasilache that ended up just inches wide with Bonello clearly rooted. Badoi could have easily scored on 75 minutes but his first effort was brilliantly saved by man of the match Bonello whilst his second shot went well wide.
Sliema missed a fine opportunity on 78 minutes when Nwoko failed to spot Woods who was completely free just outside the box with the Rapid defence stifling the threat.
The Blues were again close to level the scoring 2 minutes from time when Giglio saw his strong shot blast just wide of Coman.