Sliema W.-Naxxar L. 2-0
Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Borg, J. Mintoff (T. Cilia), M. Scerri (B. Muscat), S. Ohawuchi, C. Gatt Baldacchino, P. Gueye, P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi (A. Bello Osagie), S. Bianciardi
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, M. Briffa (O. Agboebina), A. Buhagiar, L. Cutajar (V. Bellia), G. Ribeiro (O. Zongo), A. Decesare, P. Doffo, K. Drago, D. Falzon, A. Rocha Da Silva, Evaldo
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, J. Spiteri
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann
Scorers: S. Ohawuchi 28, 78
Yellow cards: K. Drago, A. Decesare, A. Buhagiar
Red card: K. Drago
Player of the match: S. Ohawuchi
TMI top three: 1. P. Barbetti 2. M. Sc erri 3. S. Ohawuchi
SILVVIO VELLA
Sliema Wanderers registered their second win Premier League win against Naxxar Lions that keeps them unbeaten so far in the new season. Their victory was a deserved one as they dominated inferior opponents for most of the match. They even contrived to miss a late penalty, one of several chances the Wanderers squandered throughout the game.
Stanley Ohawuchi scored his side’s two goals, his second brace of the season that takes his tally to four hits already.
Naxxar were also without defeat before kick off as they had drawn the first macth and won the second. But yesterday they were always second best to their opponents in all departments.
Naxxar were toothless in attack without the injured Terence Scerri and after their most creative player, Gilmar Ribeiro, was injured and forced to leave the pitch after only 20 minutes. That enabled new signing, Ousseni Zongo, to make his debut, going in as a substitute.
The Lions were also bereft of the suspended Thiago Lopes and Kurt Drago was included in the starting line-up after missing out against Qormi. Under 21 international defender Louis Cutajar was also making his first appearance for Naxxar.
Sliema, who were an unchanged side from the one that drew against Birkirkara in the previous match, were always the better side and once they had established supremacy over a weak Naxxar midfield, that is usually more forceful with Rocha Da Silva and Doffo, the Wanderers dominated much of the first half and could have taken a more comfortable lead by halftime.
Muchardi and Scerri thrived in midfield and Pape Gueye was prominent in many of his side’s build-ups, combining well with Stanley Ohawuchi. The latter should have scored as early as the 19th minute when he ran to meet a perfect low pass from Mintoff towards the middle. He tried to go past the grounded Azzopardi but the Naxxar keeper foiled him with an outstretched arm.
Ohawuchi did better on 28 minutes though. After Gueye thumped his shot against the upright, he picked the rebound and scored with a low drive.
Sliema continued to threaten and went close to increasing their lead on a couple of occasions before the break. On Muchardi’s short free kick, Barbetti’s curling shot went tantalisingly wide and when Scerri found enough space and played the ball wide to Gueye, the latter missed the target.
Sliema remained dominant even after the interval and after only three minutes Bianciardi headed Muchardi’s cross just over. Muchardi then played a through ball for Ohawuchi to advance through the middle but failed to put his final shot on target. Ohawuchi and Muchardi combined well on the hour. The latter was clear, but keeper Azzopardi repelled his shot.
Naxxar coach Winston Muscat's response to his side's lethargy was for Osi Lucky Agboebina to replace Marlon Briffa and then veteran Victor Bellia to go in for Cutajar. The changes did not have much of an effect.
Naxxar knew that they had been thoroughly outplayed. However they almost made Sliema regret not turning their dominance into something more substantial when on 75 minutes, Agboebina missed the target badly when put clear inside the Sliema area by a Rocha Da Silva low cross from the left.
Sliema scored a reassuring goal on 78 minutes. This time Mintoff played a through ball and Stanley Ohawuchi advanced through the middle and coolly beat keeper Azzopardi with a clinical finish.
Ten minutes from time they could have scored a third as well. Naxxar’s defender Buhagiar tripped Ohawuchi inside the area to concede a penalty but Alex Muscat hit the bar with a powerful shot from the spot kick.
Naxxar’s misery was complete when on the stroke of full time, other defender Drago was sent off for a second bookable offence. From the ensuing free kick from the edge of the Naxxar area, the bar again came to the Lions’ rescue, holding out substitute Bello-Osagie’s goalbound effort.