Sliema W.-Vittoriosa 2-0

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

Vittoriosa S: J.M. Vella (S. Cini), J. Aguiar, A. Spiteri (R. Mifsud), M. Teruel, M. Pereira, R. Dos Santos, M. Camilleri, C. Brincat, Siraj Arab (M. Barbara), Samir Arab, O. Guerrero

Referee: M. Borg

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th offcial: P. Farrugia

Scorers: S. Ohawuchi 50, M. Muchardi 72

Yellow cards: R. Dos Santos, Samir Arab, Siraj Arab, M. Camilleri, A. Bello-Osagie, M. Teruel

Player of the match: A. Bello-Osagie (Sliema W)

TMI top three: 1. A. Bello-Osagie  2. M. Muchardi  3. M. Teruel

Stanley Ohawuchi was back on the scorers’ list, after two barren matches, and the industrious Mattias Muchardi scored a second as Sliema Wanderers tasted success after two winless league matches against promoted side Vittoriosa Stars in an eventful game at Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Following their encouraging draw against Hibernians the previous week, Sliema were eager to chalk up a supposedly straightforward three points yesterday. The final score may not reflect the flow and ebb of a match dominated by the Wanderers, but with several fluffed chances and near misses.

For Vittoriosa, who had Jose Aguiar back after injury but were still missing the services of Gilbert Martin, there were positive signs in defeat. A first half of considerable resilience smothered their opponents, and with a bit more finesse in front of goal they might have caused some damage.

Vittoriosa, who also showed good signs in defeat against Valetta the previous week, began with their effort levels cranked up, reducing space, and clearly focused on trying to find some resilience. Their motivation however was low after conceding Sliema’s goal early in the second half.

Sliema had John Mintoff returning in their starting line-up after a one match ban but had to do without the suspended midfielder Mark Scerri. Ivan Woods was handed a rare start, playing as thei most advanced forward, meant to create open space for Stanley Ohawuchi and Bello-Osagie to exploit. The latter played wide on the left flank, raking long balls inside the Vittoriosa area for Ohawuchi to chase.

Sliema played some fluid, at times slick football, during the first 45 minutes and Vittoriosa,  were forced to soak the pressure and chase their opponents for long stretches. However, with Mintoff putting two efforts off target, there was only one shot at goal within the first quarter hour. That came from Barbetti, straight on the Vittoriosa keeper Vella.

Sliema’s purple patch during the last 20 minutes of the first half, saw them create several half chances. Bello-Osagie headed Borg’s cross against the side netting and then Ohawuchi played a deft one-two with Bello-Osagie but keeper Vella turned his shot into a corner. The Vittoriosa keeper dived to his left to hold out Barbetti’s free kick past the half hour and soon after, Woods had to leave the pitch with a muscle problem. His substitute, Beppe Muscat, was introduced in midfield with Ohawuchi advancing in attack.

Sliema continued to waste chances when, on Barbetti’s deep cross from the left, Ohawuchi laid the ball to the unmarked Mintoff who missed the target with a weak effort.

Vittoriosa could see little of the ball but were not without a threat of their own, only to show too much profligacy inside the Sliema area. On 19 minutes, Marcelo Pereira headed Siraj Arab’s cross off target and on 36 minutes the Brazilian forward should have done better when, unmarked inside the Sliema area, he connected to Guerrero’s cross but skied the ball when faced by keeper Bonello.

Vittoriosa carved out the last chance of the half when Spiteri played the ball forward to the advancing Guerrero. His shot on the turn was blocked into a corner.

The introduction of Trevor Cilia for the second half gave Sliema the required impetus as the substitute was immediately involved in his side’s opener on 50 minutes. The Vittoriosa backline was caught on the hop as Cilia’s cut-back pass from the right fell to the unmolested Stanley Ohawuchi who scored with a central hard shot from inside the area.

The Sliema marksman limped off five minutes later, after he fell akwardly under an opponent’s challenge, when advancing towards goal on a Sliema break.

There were more near misses for Sliema with substitute Gueye shooting feebly on the goalkeeper and Cilia failing to find the target as he lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper Vella.

The Vittoriosa shot stopper was injured in a collision with Gueye on 65 minutes and had to be substituted.

Sliema made sure seven minutes later, when two of the afternoon’s best players, exploited another defensive Vittoriosa blunder. Brincat failed to clear Bello-Osagie’s low cross and the ball fell invitingly to Mattias Muchardi who beat reserve keeper Cini with a curling shot at the top corner.

Vittoriosa looked dead and buried as Brincat failed to conclude on Guerrero’s cross from the right.

Gueye fluffed another late chance for Sliema. Put clear by Cilia, he shot weakly in the keeper’s hands from a very promising position.