Birkirkara-Sliema 1-1   

Birkirkara: J. Haber, A. Mendoza, Z. Muscat, J. Zerafa, M. Bissi, P. Fenech, G. Sciberras, R. Muscat (R. Camenzuli), S. Shodiya (T. Vella), R. Scicluna (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), D. Toure’

Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Borg, P. Barbetti, J. Mintoff (T. Cilia), M. Scerri, S. Ohawuchi, C. Gatt Baldacchino, P. Gueye (A. Bello-Osagie), M. Muchardi, S. Bianciardi

Referee: F. Zammit

Asst.refs: D. Sultana, R. Vella

Additional asst.refs: A.M. Sant, K. Azzopardi

4th official: T. Debono

Scorers: D. Toure’ 70, M. Muchardi 80

Yellow cards: P. Gueye, M. Scerri, M. Bissi, J. Zerafa, A. Mendoza, Z. Muscat

Player of the match: M. Muchardi (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. R. Scicluna  2. R. Muscat  3. P. Barbetti

Attendance: 1,009

Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers took a point apiece in  a low key encounter, at times showing the early-season nerves

Both teams possess some gifted individuals but the sort of scratchy mood they were in, produced very little in terms of entertainment.

Birkirkara dominated possession, especially in the second half, but too often in their own half for Sliema’s liking.

Ryan Scicluna’s overlaps from right-back served as an offensive outlet for the Stripes, whose attacking power as a unit looked good, highlighting their true potential, even if yesterday they lacked the presence of Frank Temile, the protagonist against Rabat Ajax in the opening match, who sat on the bench.

Toure’ was central to most of Birkirkara’s brightest attacking moments, but Rowen Muscat was almost always highly involved.

Birkirkara’s flat-three defensive set-up was made up of Zach Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza and new Brazilian recruit Matheus Bissi who was included straight into their starting line-up. In the absence of the suspended Edward Herrera, Ryan Scicluna played wide on the right, with Joseph Zerafa on the left as Ryan Camenzuli made way.

Sliema retained the same starting line-up that won so convincingly against Qormi the week before, with the difference that Stanley Ohawuchi, who scored a brace in the first match, was well subdued yesterday. Despite all his running, he only had an effort saved by keeper Haber in the opening minutes and another blocked inside the area before the break.

Sliema crowded their midfield and with the types of Barbetti, Muchardi and Scerri, they managed to stifle most of Birkirkara’s progression.

The Wanderers rarely threatened and  with Ohawuchi and Gueye both toiling, the penetration was lacking. But were tactically well disciplined as always.

They allowed Birkirkara to take the lead in the last 20 minutes through some ingenuity but recovered well to draw level ten minutes from time and take a point.

Both goalkeepers were underemployed. Sliema’s keeper Bonello was only called into action past the half hour as he went to the ground to block Shodiya’s  low drive. Birkirkara went closer to taking the lead though on the stroke of halftime. On Fenech’s cross, Toure’s close range header demanded a smart save from Bonello into a corner.

Ten minutes into the second half, Birkirkara again carved another good chance. Scicluna crossed from the right, Toure’s header was held out by the Sliema keeper and Rowen Muscat clipped the upright on the loose ball.

With Birkirkara gradually taking a grip on the match, it wastime for Sliema to draft in their new signing Bello-Osagie in attack for the ineffective Gueye on 66 minutes.

But Birkirkara took the lead on 70 minutes. Shodiya capitalised on a hasty Sliema free kick, lobbed the ball intelligently towards the middle of the area from the right and Demba Toure’ reached before keeper Bonello to head into an unattended goal.

Sliema were rattled. They begn to give away possession too cheaply in midfield with many passes going astray. But when Birkirkara looked likely to score their second, the Wanderers restored equilibrium with ten minutes remaining. Barbetti’s free kick  was cleared in the path of Matias Muchardi who hit first time past keeper Haber to earn his side a draw.

The Wanderers went close to victory in the dying minutes as a Muchardi free kick from the left whizzed past the far post to the relief of Haber and Birkirkara.