Sliema W: H. Bonello, J. Mintoff, B. Timotic, J. Mifsud, L. Martinelli, M. Muchardi, B. Muscat, P. Gonzalez (O. El Ghaouti), A. Muscat (D. Fenech), I. Woods, M. Ciantar (A.Decesare)

Floriana: J. Borg, T. Paris (S. Borg), T. Farrugia, O. Bugeja, K. Farrugia, B. Farrugia, V. Alhino, C. Borg (T. Cilia), D. Pisani, C. Caruana, R. Darmanin

Referee: T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: V. Alhino 32, I. Woods 35

Yellow cards: B. Farrugia, J. Mintoff, T. Farrugia, C. Borg, C. Caruana, M. Muchardi, B. Muscat

Player of the match: Valdo Alhino (Floriana)

TMI top three: 1. V. Alhino 2. A. Muscat 3. C. Caruana

Attendance: 969

SILVIO VELLA

This first encounter of the season between ‘Old Firm’ rivals Sliema Wanderers and Floriana ended in a draw. The game, tipped as the main one of the opening weekend programme, produced the best in the first half, including both goals.

Both sides have a new look about them this season, not least their new foreign coaches.

Sliema, under Italian Alfonso Greco, have been buying from South America this season, with two new Argentinians making starts. Pablo Gonzalez played in a supporting midfield role behind the forwards Alex Muscat and other newcomer, the returning Ivan Woods, who was playing against his former club yesterday. Matias Muchardi played in front of the defence as the Wanderers’ rearguard also included other new signing from Mqabba, Branislav Timotic.

Roderick Bajada, Mark Scerri and Clifford Gatt Baldacchino were missing for Sliema yesterday.

Floriana have an English coach, Mark Wright, this season but the only new faces in the team yesterday were those of defender Kane Farrugia from Mosta and Brazilian midfielder Valdo Alhino who stole the limelight with a spirited display, exhibiting a good execution from set pieces and also scoring his side’s opening goal. Trevor Cilia, back at Floriana, was included as a second half substitute.

Floriana are still awaiting the clearance of new recruits of English striker Waisu and defender Tremarco.

The first half was a highly entertaining affair, although lacking in technical standards.

Sliema looked the more enterprising in the opening minutes, with Alex Muscat, playing in an advanced role, failing to finish off with only keeper Jurgen Borg to beat and then himself missing the target with another effort.

Floriana gradually started to find rhythm and pace of their own and towards the half hour Sliema keeper Bonello stretched himself to turn Alhino’s free kick into a corner.

On 32 minutes, the Brazilian went one better as he headed in Darmanin’s cross from the left to give the Greens the lead.

But Sliema took only three minutes to restore equilibrium. Alex Muscat’s overhead kick was turned into a corner by keeper Borg, but from the resulltant free kick Ivan Woods headed in from close range.

There were more half chances at both ends before halftime. Caruana’s long range shot ended on the roof of the net and on the other end, Ciantar’s persisting run and cross shot from the left found no support.

Sliema could have even taken the lead on 44 minutes when Woods thumped his direct central free kick against the bar.

The second half was less enterprising, with far fewer scoring opportunities as both sides were wilting under the heat.

Darmanin tested keeper Bonello with a dipping shot after a good run on Caruana’s pass and Woods arrived fractionally late on a lon Gonzalez free kick at the other end. On 74 minutes, Gonzalez failed to put his shot on target from a promising position, following a poor Alhino clearance.

Sliema tried to give more impetus to their attack with the late introduction of new Moroccan El Ghaouti for Gonzalez, but he was never really involved to change the final outcome.

In fact Floriana went closer with another meaty free kick by Alhino, denied by a Bonello smart save.

In the final anlaysis, however, a draw was the right result.