Sliema W-Valletta 2-0
Sliema W: M. Akanji, B. Said, R. Bajada, D. Carabott, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, O. Anonam, A. Madzar (N. Turner), S. Giglio (M. Scerri), S. Pace, C. Ciantar (L. Lombardi)
Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Bondin, M. Grima, B. Nisevic (S. Bezzina), R. Forace (D. Zarb), I. Zammit, U. Edafe (J. Grioli), D. Camilleri, D. Falzon, G. Agius, R. Siberie
Referee: C. Pisani Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, K. Borg 4th official: J. Attard
Scorer: A. Madzar (2)
Yellow card: J. Chetcuti, U. Edafe, S. Pace
Player of the match: Aleksander Madzar (Sliema W)
TMI top three: 1. S. Giglio 2. A. Madzar 3. I. Zammit
Sliema Wanderers take sole occupancy of second place in the League standings this morning after beating Valletta in this direct encounter between two Premier sides with proud histories and heavy burdens of expectation.
Two second half goals in quick succession, scored by Aleksander Madzar, enabled the Wanderers to edge their opponents for second place and maintain the challenge with leaders Marsaxlokk.
Both teams had gone into this game into an excellent vein of form. Valletta had won their previous three matches, Sliema the last two. The Wanderers had Ian Ciantar and Dilello missing in defence and Anonam started the match instead of Nwoko. Valletta, ominously for their opponents, were at full strength.
The team from the capital showed the better attacking intentions in the early stages, with Agius again being the inspiration for most of their creativity. Before eight minutes had elapsed, Zammit had already clipped the bar with a ferocious drive.
But gradually Sliema started to find the pace, to abate Valletta’s fury. Ciantar’s shot went narrowly wide and midway through the half, Valletta keeper Darmanin rushed out to block Anonam’s incursion and then blocked again Madzar’s effort on the loose ball.
On 26 minutes a crunching tackle on Giglio earned Edafe a booking and past the half hour an Agius shot was saved by the grounded keeper Akanji as the first half wore out into a goalless stalemate.
Valletta threatened to break the deadlock within five minutes of the second half. Edafe skied the ball from an inviting Riberie pass and Zammit’s grounder was saved by Akanji. The latter stretched himself to turn Agius’ well placed shot into a corner on a Zammit pass.
But the goal came at the other end on 57 minutes. Giglio played a through ball towards the advancing Woods, who, when faced by keeper Darmanin, sent a cross for Aleksander Madzar to head in at the far post.
Valletta were hit cold by Sliema’s second only three minutes later. Bajada’s long ball forward found Madzar unmarked on the edge of the area to beat Darmanin with a low strike.
Valletta tried to up the tempo. They put in Zarb for Forace but looked to have lost some of their early cohesion as Sliema tried to capitalise on the delicate moment with a third goal that would put the issue beyond doubt.
They went close again on 72 minutes. With Nisevic out, receiving treatment for a foot injury sustained by an awkward fall over his goalkeeper, which eventually lead to his substitution, Anonam nearly capitalised on Valletta’s hesitancy at the back but shot Madzar’s cross off target. Then Madzar himself, lobbed the ball slightly over the Valletta goal.
Although Valletta kept fighting gamely, they lacked the required penetration to unlock Sliema’s rearguard as they preserved a third consecutive clean sheet.