Sliema W.-Rabat A. 4-1
Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Mintoff, M. Scerri, A. Bello-Osagie, C. Gatt Baldacchino, T. Cilia, P. Gueye (A. Navarra), P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi, S. Bianciardi
Rabat A: P. Velimirovic (J. Azzopardi), Z. Tanti, D. Azzopardi, I. Carapic, D. Falzon, P. Borg (C. Vella), D. Pendas, D. Pelaez, M. Avila Perez, M. Licari, J. Bajada (A. Azzopardi)
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: S. Attard, L. Portelli
4th official: A.M. Sant
Scorers: S. Bianciardi 8, M. Muchardi 57, M. Licari 70, A. Bello-Osagie 82, A. Navarra 90+
Yellow cards: D. Pendas, P. Barbetti, P. Gueye, D. Pelaez, D. Falzon
Player of the match: A. Bello-Osagie (Sliema W)
TMI top three: 1. A. Bello-Osagie 2. M. Muchardi 3. D. Pendaz
Attendance: 582
This was a good opportunity for Sliema Wanderers to make up for their upset aganst Mosta the previous week. Three points consolidate their fourth place in the standings but the overall performance left much to be desired.
Their win against bottom placed Rabat Ajax was a flattering one, as the ebb and flow of the game did not reflect the gulf between the two teams in the standings.
The five goals were the only highlights of a dull match, with very little action of note.
Sliema, again without their best scorer Stanley Ohawuchi, took the lead early in the game but had to wait until the hour to score their second.
Understrenght Rabat, who had been on the backfoot, but never outplayed by more experienced opponents, pulled one back 20 minutes from time, only to collapse to suffer two late goals.
It was a harsh result for the Magpies as injuries and suspensions took their toll on a Rabat side.
Coach Steve D’Amato had to make a rift of changes in the starting line-up. Zach Tanti replaced the suspended Shawn Gauci as right back and Patrick Borg filled the midfield role replacing Clifford Gauci, also suspended. Adam Smeir failed to recover from injury and Malcolm Licari started on the flank.
To add insult to injury, Jonathan Bajada was also injured and forced to be substituted on the half hour. Velimirovic returned in goal after missing the match against Qormi but had to receive treatment when colliding with Bianciardi after conceding the Sliema goal.
That came on the eighth minute of a mundane first half, with Stefano Biancardi heading in Barbetti’s cross from the right to score his first league goal of the season.
Sliema laid siege on the Rabat fort, leaving three men at the back, but could not find a way past Velimirovic after that, as Rabat defended in numbers. As always, Rabat were too reliant on the individual inventive of Diego Pendas, who went close with acouple of efforts from a distance, but rarely carried a threat for the inoperative Henry Bonello in the Sliema goal.
The Wanderers surged into the Rabat area with some more frequency after the restart. As early as the 49th minute, Bello-Osagie shot narrowly over. Eight minutes later, Sliema doubled their lead. Mintoff ended his run down the right with a cross for Matias Muchardi to stoop low and score with a diving header.
The match seemed as good as over but Rabat were handed a lifeline 20 minutes from time as they pulled one back. Malcolm Licari headed in Pelaez’s free kick, catching the Sliema keeper slightly off his line.
A lull in proceedings followed and Rabat suffered another setback when keeper Velimirovic collided with Gueye inside the area and left the pitch.
On 82 minutes Abubaker Bello-Osagie headed in from a tight angle after Muchardi had sprinted inside the Rabat area, went round reserve keeper Azzopardi and delivered the deep cross.
Deep into four minutes of added time, Sliema scored their fourth, putting extra gloss on their win, through substitute Andrea Navarra. A hastily taken free kick by Pelaez hit Falzon and fell invitingly to the Italian striker who obliged to finish off.