Sliema W: V. Szentpeteri, I. Azzopardi, B. Muscat, T. Sourae, M. Scerri, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (A. Mercieca), E. Lattes, C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Woods (A. Cabate), J. Mintoff, C. Failla

Sibenik: G. Blazevic, T. Ceric, M. Jurcevic, Z. Husmani, S. Bacelic (I. Elez), A. Jakolis (A. Subic), I. Medvid, I. Fustar, A. Bulat, S. Bloudek (I. Bakovic)

Referee: Alan Black (N. Ireland)

After a goalless away draw in the first leg, Sliema Wanderers were expected to make a further stride in the Europa League. But yesterday, at the Centenary Stadium, they failed to make it to the second qualifying round when soundly beaten by three second-half goals against superior opponents from Croatia. Sliema were reduced to ten men for the last 12 minutes after Azzopardi’s dismissal.

Sibenik looked sharper on the ball as Sliema failed to show enough physicality to outmuscle their robust, although hardly technical, opponents.

Sliema had only their goalkeeper Viktor Szentpeteri to thank for avoiding a heavier defeat. The Hungarian custodian pulled a string of fine saves, especially in the first half, to keep his side in the game.

Before the match was a quarter of an hour old, Szentpeteri came to Sliema’s rescue as he stretched himself to hold out a Jakolis goalbound shot after a Fustar effort had rebounded off the foot of the post. The Sliema keeper turned another Bacelic shot into a corner and then again held out a Bloudek shot on 23 minutes.

Sliema, who took quite some time to settle, showed up with a Failla cross shot from the left which keeper Blazevic tipped over the bar after 19 minutes.

Midway through the half, Lattes played a long ball towards Mifsud Triganza who shot feebly on the run. And on 34 minutes, Mifsud Triganza played the ball towards the middle and Failla’s shot from outside the area forced Sibenik’s keeper into a smart save.

Five minutes from the break, Alispahic ran inside the area on Bacelic’s return pass but keeper Szentpeteri turned the ball into another corner.

Sliema remained almost only bystanders after the resumption as Sibenik upped the tempo and always looked the more likely to break the deadlock. After Medvid shot wastefully off target from an ideal position inside the Sliema area, Sibenik’s keeper Blazevic handled the ball outside the area on the left, following a Lattes cross, and was shown a yellow card. Failla shot the ensuing free kick wide.

On 63 minutes Jurcevic crossed from the right, Jakolis laid the ball for Fustar to unleash a powerful shot. Keeper Szentpeteri dived to turn into a corner. From the resultant Alispahic corner, Ivan Medvid headed in at the top corner.

Sliema immediate response came from a Mintoff rising shot and a Woods effort which was deflected into a corner.

But on 73 minutes, Sibenik doubled their lead. Alispahic set Antonio Jakolis down the left flank. He outpaced Gatt Baldacchino to slot the ball low beneath the onrushing keeper.

Sliema suffered further misery on 78 minutes. Defender Ian Azzopardi harshly received marching orders from Irish referee Black after hitting a grounded opponent with his shot.

There was still time for a derailed Sliema side to concede a third goal with two minutes remaining. Defender Beppe Muscat hastily kicked the ball upfield when a Sibenik player lay injured on the ground, and with keeper Szentpeteri out of his line, Ante Bulat lobbed the ball from midfield for the Croats’ 3-0 aggregate win.