Sorry Sliema unable to arrest the slump
Sliema W.-Floriana 0-1
Sliema W: V. Szentpeteri, M. Scerri, J. Paris (A. Spiteri), J. Mintoff, B. Muscat (N. Turner), A. Goncalves, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, S. Souare, C. Gatt Baldacchino, S. Bezzina, R. Bajada (M. Ciantar) - Coach: M. Marlow
Floriana: L. Saidi, D. Pisani, T. Farrugia, B. Said, M Micallef, P. Doffo, C. Cassar, C. Borg (J. Borg), I. Woods, R. Darmanin (M. Mecerod), C. Caruana (M. Gauci) - Coach: T. Raykov
Referee: C. Lautier, Asst.refs: P. Agius, I. Spiteri, 4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorers: I. Woods 4,
Yellow cards: B. Said, C. Caruana, S. Souare, M. Mecerod
Player of the match: I. Woods (Floriana)
TMI top 3: 1. C. Caruana 2. I. Woods 3. S. Souare
Sliema Wanderers, who were expected to make further strides by this time, suffered another setback yesterday as they succumbed to defeat by Floriana – their third on the trot. They failed to arrest the slump that leaves them embroiled in the danger zone, third from last, and puts more pressure on their underperforming coach Mark Marlow.
Sliema were in desperate need of points due to their precarious table position. Their aim was undermined by notable absentees like Jackson Lima and Obiefule. Josef Mifsud was only named as a substitute. This, apart from the long term injuries to Alex Muscat and Clayton Failla. But defender Steve Bezzina was given a start on the left for the first time this season as Gatt Baldacchino and Said were the two central defenders.
Raykov’s Floriana selection produced some surprsises with Mecerod relegated to the bench, making way for Ryan Darmanin, while Doffo and Cassar were given the nod ahead of Joseph Borg and Sokolov. Dzhorov and Owen Bugeja were still unfit.
This was not a bad match, just a boring one – 90 minutes which neutrals will quickly lose in the mist of their memories.
Sliema’s defence was still unsettled when Woods laid the ball to Caruana whose shot was blocked by Souare inside the area. Floriana made the breakthrough with hardly four minutes on the clock. From a throw-in from the right, Clyde Borg crossed low for Ivan Woods to beat keeper Szentpeteri with a well placed shot.
Sliema tried to regroup although they looked devoid of ideas, especially in midfield where they gave away possession too cheaply.
On 10 minutes, Goncalves’ free kick from the edge of the area, after Mifsud Triganza was brought down by Said’s late tackle, demanded a difficult save from keeper Saidi as Farrugia appeared to handle the loose ball but Sliema’s claims for a penalty went unnoticed.
Three minutes later, Caruana almost capitalised on some hesitation in the Sliema defence but shot narrowly off target.
Midway through the half, Mifsud Triganza’s shot from the left was blocked by the grounded keeper Saidi.
Sliema were beginning to put their mark on the proceedings. Mintoff sent the ball low across the face of the Floriana goal with nobody making contact. Finally Scerri arrived too late and his effort lacked co-ordination.
Towards the half hour, Sliema keeper Szentpeteri denied Woods with a fine save into a corner. Two minutes before halftime, Sliema put in Ciantar for Bajada in what looked like a tactical change to give more impetus in attack.
But Sliema almost conceded a second three minutes into the second half. From a Cassar corner from the right, Darmanin headed the ball against the bar.
On the other end, a Mifsud Triganza shot was partially blocked by the Floriana shot stopper and Said cleared the danger.
Floriana put in Mecerod for Darmanin on 55 minutes.
On 74 minutes, Sliema went closest with a Mifsud Triganza arrow-like drive from a distance that hit the underside of the bar and rebounded in play with keeper Saidi totally beaten.
In their desperate late efforts, Sliema also put in veteran Turner for Beppe Muscat, playing with only three men at the back. Still, they failed to trouble Floriana’s resolute defence and at the end, the Greens were still winning with that Woods early goal.