Valletta’s 20-match unbeaten run came to a halt yesterday. The newly crowned champions put a below par performance and were deservingly beaten by Sliema Wanderers. Defender Branco Nisevic, a last minute replacement for Brian Said who felt some starin in the warm-up, scored the all important goal on the hour, leaving Sliema in with a good chance for a runner-up spot.

In fact Sliema have joined Birkirkara in third place, trailing second-placed Marsaxlokk by only one point. Sliema’s late resurgence, with four consecutive wins in the second Round of the Championship Pool, continued and they now face Floriana in their last match.

This was far from Valletta’s day. They were without the suspended Temile. Grioli and Backhaus were exiled to the bench with Bondin and Falzon starting the match. Sliema were also hampered by injuries and suspensions, bereft of keeper Akanji, as well as defenders Said and Muscat.

In the absence of Backhaus, Valletta suffered in midfield and, visibly jaded, were unable to impose their play in the face of an organised and tactically disciplined Sliema side.

Valletta also lacked the inventive play of the volatile and speedy Temile as Falzon switched from one flank to the other to little effect. Monesterolo was starved of service and Valletta’s few raids at the Sliema goal came through shots from outside the area.

Sliema had slightly the edge in a dire first half, and Bartolo and Barbara’s wing play, whenever the mood took them, often caused the Valletta rearguard some embarrassing moments especially from Sliema’s right flank.

In the opening minutes, Barbara followed up a good run by Woods through the middle. His shot was tipped over into a corner by keeper Hogg.

Sliema continued to play the ball in neat triangles after the restart although they needed to turn their possession more ruthlessly into a goal.

But on the hour, following Bajada’s corner from the left, Branco Nisevic managed to put his header on target, beating the helpless Hogg from close range.

Four minutes later, Sliema were denied a second goal. Woods’ header, beating Hogg on Bajada’s sailing free kick, was disallowed by the referee after his assistant’s instruction, probably for the forward’s handling in the process.

Immediately, it was time for Backhaus to make his appearance for Valletta in lieu of Falzon. Gilbert Agius moved further up, wide on the flank, as the Citizens tried to show more urgency.

And as Valletta remained surprisingly impotent in attack, Sliema created their menace on the other end, going close to exploiting huge gaps in their opponents’ defence. Into added time. substitute Da Silva, fluffed the match’s last opportunity when, after put clear by Bajada, he was foiled by Hogg’s plucky save.* * *

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Bondin, J. Mifsud, K. Scicluna, S. Bezzina, I. Zammit (J. Grioli), D. Camilleri, S. Giglio (K. Magro), D. Falzon (R. Backhaus), G. Agius, S. Monesterolo

Sliema W: H. Bonello, I. Azzopardi, B. Nisevic, M. Scerri, R. Bajada, M. Bartolo (A. Da Silva), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods (O. Anonam), I. Ciantar, R. Briffa, E. Barbara (M. Ciantar)

Referee: C. Lautier asst.refs: K. Borg, J. Camilleri 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: B. Nisevic

Yellow cards: R. Briffa, R. Bajada

Player of the match: Etienne Barbara (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. E. Barbara 2. J. Chetcuti 3. J. Mifsud