Floriana-Sliema W. 0-1
Floriana: D. Hanford (S. Mintoff), A. Scicluna, I. Edet, G. Roberts, C. Caruana (L. Casha), I. Coronado, S. Pisani, C. Borg, J. Borg, B. Farrugia (D. Pinheiro), G. Muir
Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Borg, J. Mintoff, M. Scerri (I. Woods), S. Ohawuchi (T. Cilia), A. Bello-Osagie (P. Gueye), P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi, B. Muscat, S. Bianciardi
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: C. Francalanza, A. Borg Cardona
Additional asst.refs: M. Apap, F. Zammit
4th official: M. Camilleri
Scorers: S. Ohawuchi 19,
Yellow cards: I. Edet, B. Muscat, G. Roberts, J. Mintoff, A. Bello-Osagie, A. Scicluna, I. Woods
Player of the match: S. Ohawuchi (Sliema W)
TMI top three: 1. S. Bianciardi 2. P. Barbetti 3. G. Roberts
A spectacular winning volley by Stanley Ohawuchi after 19 minutes meant that unbeaten Sliema Wanderers consolidated their encouraging start to the season by taking all three points against a Floriana side that had won their previous two matches.
Ohawuchi also hit the post for Sliema in the second half, and Bello-Osagie had an effort cleared off the line in an uninspiring but open game against ‘Old Firm’ rivals.
The suspension of defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino forced Sliema coach Greco to reshuffle his backline. Beppe Muscat was given a start as right back, Alex Muscat moved as centre back alongside Bianciardi and Jacob Borg played as left back.
Floriana were bereft of the injured Daniel Bogdanovic and Sascha Borg as Brooke Farrugia and Christian Caruana were given the nod, in an otherwise unchanged team who beat Rabat Aja 4-0 in the previous match.
Sliema could not afford another slip after dropping two points in a toiling draw against Tarxien Rainbows the other week. Bello-Osagie and Stanley Ohawuchi provided the movement up front as Floriana showed good tactical discipline despite lack of enough penetration, with The Greens had their fair share of possession against the Wanderers but their passing game was tiresome and lacked penetrative intent. The Greens’ attacking options remained curtailed. Steve Pisani, in the main striker’s role, was completely starved of service. His aides, Coronado and Carauna were often back tracking to provide cover to their defence.
At best they could have bored their opponents into mistakes. It didn't work. On 19 minutes, Bello-Osagie and Ohawuchi combined well to break the deadlock. The former lobbed the ball inside the Floriana area for the chasing Ohawuchi to volley past the helpless keeper Hanford.
But a lull in proceedings followed especially because Sliema were forced to substitute the injured Scerri on the half hour and the inclusion of Ivan Woods somehow slowed the tempo in the final third.
Floriana survived a scare three minutes into the second half. Their keeper missed the flight of the ball on a Muchardi corner kick, presenting Bello-Osagie with a free header. But Caruana headed out the danger from the goal line.
On 53 minutes Ohawuchi avoided Joseph Borg inside the area and shot at goal, the ball rebounding off the post with keeper Hanford hooked to his line.
Towards the hour, Coronado almost capitalised on a rare Bianciardi slip in defence and was clear inside the Sliema area, but his low drive was saved by the grounded keeper Bonello.
Ohawuchi was again menacing for Sliema on 65 minutes. His pace took him past Scicluna but his shot from a tight angle was off target.
Sliema replaced both Ohawuchi and Bello-Osagie while Floriana introduced Luca Casha for Caruana in attack for the final 20 minutes.
The game was remarkably open and remained so for the last part.
Casha failed to reach for Pisani’s cross and the latter arrived late on Joseph Borg’s long ball forward.
Floriana also put in Pinheiro for the final five minutes, withdrawing the goalkeeper as they had already five foreigners on the pitch.
Coronado came up with the final shot from a distance, capably dealt with by the Sliema keeper, while Floriana’s reserve keeper Sean Mintoff was called to turn a meaty Woods free kick into a corner in the dying minutes.