Sliema Wanderers won this rollercoaster for only the first time in nine matches to lift the pressure from the shoulders of coach Mark Marlow.

The turn of the year might have brought a twist in the Wanderers’ fortunes, but only just. They squandered a two-goal lead before the break and then fell behind against the volatile Vittoriosa, spurred by their two Brazilians, Da Silva and Edison. The latter’s sending off in the last quarter hour proved to be the Stars’ downfall as they succumbed to two late soft goals and were left with nothing to show for all their efforts at the end.

Once more, Vittoriosa showed vulnerability in defence and almost all Sliema’s goals exposed their tendency to leave men unmarked in threatening positions.

Sliema had a new look about them. In the absence of the released Souare, their defence included Steve Bezzina and Josef Mifsud as centre backs and the retreated Failla as left back. Szentpeteri was back in goal, replacing Aktpan. Jackson Lima and Ciantar played behind the two forwards, Mifsud Triganza and new signing Chakib Lachkhem, who scored a brace, including his side’s winner in added time. Obiefule was missing.

It was all Sliema for the first 20 minutes as they started strongly and soon took a two-goal lead.

Mifsud Triganza’s shot was saved with difficulty by keeper Agius in the opening minutes and then the Vittoriosa defence cleared Lima’s free kick in the path of Mifsud who skied the ball.

On ten minutes, Ciantar ran in from the left on Lima’s pass. His shot was blocked by keeper Agius.

Sliema’s goal was in the air though. On 18 minutes, Lachkhem started the move from midfield with a pass towards Mifsud Triganza on the left. His cross found two Sliema players completely unattended in front of the Vittoriosa goal. Jackson Lima was the first to react, shooting low past the helpless Agius.

Hardly a minute later, Lima turned provider for Chakib Lachkhem to score with a low diagonal shot from the right.

They were two sloppy goals for Vittoriosa to concede. However, they still put in enough effort to cancel that deficit and draw level before halftime.

Towards the half hour they won a penalty when Edison fell inside the area on Failla’s late tackle. Luis Edison himself tucked it away to give Vittoriosa a lifeline.

On 39 minutes, their best player Silva twisted and turned past the Sliema defence on the right. His low shot went narrowly wide.

And on the stroke of halftime, Josef Mifsud fouled Edison on the edge of the area to concede a direct free kick which Jorge Silva executed to perfection, beating keeper Szentpeteri with a low diagonal drive.

Vittoriosa went into the second half in more lively fashion and Silva ran down the right, passed the ball to Edison whose shot was blocked by the keeper. After Sliema had claims for a penalty turned down when Lachkhem came into contact with a Vittoriosa defender and fell inside the area, the Tunisin striker had his shot repelled by keeper Agius. On the hour, Lima lofted the ball on a Ciantar low free kick.

On 72 minutes, Lima’s grounder forced Agius to turn into a corner. The Stars broke away to catch the Sliema rearguard on the hop. Grech’s penetrating pass to Silva, who crossed perfectly for the advancing Anthony Ewurum to slip the ball past Szentpeteri.

Sliema were rattled and lost their composure. Not that the Wanderers ever gave up, but their efforts seemed increasingly laborious.

But the Stars suffered a setback on 77 minutes when their Brazilian Luis Edison was dismissed for a second booking.

Down to ten men, Vittoriosa had to soak a lot of Sliema’s late pressure with the Wanderers putting in Paris and Turner to throw all the embarrassment.

On Lima’s cross, Turner’s low shot was saved by keeper Agius. But the Vittoriosa backline caved in to concede two late goals deep into five minutes of added time.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s looping header, on Mifsud’s cross from the right, levelled matters and then Mifsud Triganza sent his cross from the left for the unattended Lachkhem to hit low past keeper Agius with practically the last shot of the match.

Sliema W V. Szentpeteri, J. Mifsud, M. Scerri, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, M. Ciantar (J. Paris), S. Bezzina, J. Lima, C. Lachkhem, R. Bajada (A.

Spiteri), B. Muscat, C. Failla (N. Turner)

Coach M. Marlow

Vittoriosa S S. Agius, A. Ewurum (C. Micallef), K. Sammut, S. Pace, J. Chetcuti, L. Edison, J. Xerri, J. Silva, S. Wellman, L. Grech (D. Cachia), K. Mifsud

Coach W. Muscat

Referee M. Borg

Asst.refs I. Spiteri, M. Scerri

4th official G. Tonna

Scorers J. Lima 18, C. Lachkhem 19, 90+ L. Edison 30 pen, J. Silva 45, A. Ewurum 73, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 90

Yellow cards C. Failla, J. Mifsud, C. Lachkhem, L. Edison, S. Bezzina, J. Chetcuti, M. Scerri, S. Wellman

Red card L. Edison

Player of the match J. Silva (Vittoriosa S)

TMI top 3 J. Silva 2. J. Lima 3. C. Lachkhem