Sliema W. 0

Valletta 0

Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Mifsud, R. Grech (D.Vukovic), C. Gatt Baldacchino, R. Galabov, J. Ani (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Bajada, E. Lattes, C. Frendo, B. Muscat

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Borg, I. Azzopardi, R. Briffa, E. Agius, O. Zongo, N. Jimenez (G. Agius), D. Dos Santos (M. Robic), A. Effiong (W. Barbosa), M. Mifsud

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst.refs: W. Debattista, M. Scerri

4th official: M. Apap

Yellow cards: C. Frendo, C. Gatt Baldacchino

Player of the match: Henry Bonello (Sliema W)

TMI top 3: 1. H. Bonello 2. R. Bajada 3. E. Agius

Attendance: 1,585

Sliema Wanderers keeper Henry Bonello was the protagonist yesterday as he saved Michael Mifsud’s 70-minute debateable penalty to salvage his side a well deserved point in a goalless stalemate.

The game was certainly no classic. After their 5-2 win in the FA Trophy the previous week, many might have thought that this would be another cruise for the champions,

especially because Sliema Wanderers were deprived of some key players, the suspended Daniel Mitev and Steve Bezzina and the unfit Mark Scerri. Ryan Fenech and Mifsud Triganza were named only as substitutes yesterday.

At the end, Valletta were left to rue their penalty miss.

For large parts of a fairly sterile encounter, Valletta dominated possession but to little effect as Sliema’s stranglehold in midfield ensured that Denni was reduced to ineffectual back tracking and Michael Mifsud and Alfred Effiong mostly marooned. Roderick Bajada, with tenacity to complement his skill, resisted the challenge of Jimenez, Edmond Agius and later Gilbert Agius as the Wanderers, who stayed composed, had a determination to take the play to their opponents.

A point apiece was about right and was enough to ensure Valletta stay at the top of the table and to lift Sliema above Birkirkara, on level points with Balzan Youths.

Valletta keep trimming their squad with every passing week. The departures of Maltese players Jamie Pace and Dyson Falzon during the week, were compensated by the engagement of Argentine midfielder Nahuel Pulitano Jimenez and Slovenian Miha Robic.

The former started the match, as William Barbosa was exiled to the bench, as Valletta’s squad included seven foreigners.

Valletta, as expected, did the early running. On Briffa’s cross, Michael Mifsud shot over and then the Valletta forward went clear inside the area, as Josef Mifsud slipped, only to shoot against the side netting.

On the half hour, the Sliema rearguard failed to clear Zongo’s cross and Denni had his shot saved by keeper Bonello into a corner.

Four minutes later, Briffa’s low cross was missed by Michael Mifsud and Jimenez.

And with half time looming, Effiong ran down the right, chasing Denni’s pass, but hit the side netting.

It was still goalless at halftime.

Valletta made two changes past the hour when first Barbosa went in for Effiong and then Gilbert Agius substituted Jimenez.

The Brazilian soon came in the limelight on 70 minutes. Galabov looked to have tackled him neatly as he stood inside the area as he cleared the ball and Barbosa fell over him.

The referee awarded a penalty in what looked a very harsh decision. But justice was done, when Michael Mifsud feigned with his left and shot with his right but keeper Bonello dived the right way to hold out.

Sliema’s confidence buoyed after that and they even went close on 74 minutes as three Sliema players countered against two opponents, but Ani failed to conclude the return pass to Lattes and Edmond Agius could clear.

With five minutes remaining, Ani’s rising shot went narrowly over as the Wanderers were trying to exploit the gaps in Valletta’s defence.

Mifsud Triganza even made a late appearance for Ani as the Wanderers made the best of Valletta’s off day to hold on for an important point.