Valletta-Sliema W. 0-0
Valletta: P. Marino, J. Caruana, S. Borg, E. Agius, R. Fenech, R. Briffa, H. Barry (I. Zammit), S. Bajada, D. Rocha Dos Santos, J. Vandelannoite (A. Nyang), A. Nafti (J.P. Mifsud Triganza)
Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Mintoff, M. Scerri, A. Vladavic, S. Ohawuchi, C. Gatt Baldacchino, T. Cilia (J.Borg), P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi (A. Bello Osagie), S. Bianciardi
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, P. Abela
Additional refs: M. Apap, P. Farrugia
4th official: A. Azzopardi
Yellow cards: R. Briffa, M. Scerri, S. Bianciardi, H. Barry, R. Fenech, P. Barbetti
Player of the match: A. Vladavic (Sliema W)
TMI top three: 1. H. Barry 2. A. Muscat 3. E. Agius
Valletta and Sliema Wanderers played a disappointing goalless draw that leaves them further adrift of leaders Birkirkara. Second against fourth in the table, was expected to be a more highly- charged encounter before kick off but more was promised than delivered.
In a mostly sterile encounter, both side showed too much lack of urgency, intensity and committment. Without maintaining any rhythm, slowly the game settled into a more familiar pattern that highlights the tedium of Maltese football.
Valletta, who had beaten Tarxien Rainbows in their last outing, were boosted by the return of Seve Borg and Jonathan Caruana in defence and Ryan Fenech in midfield but were bereft of Luke Dimech, out with a cartilage injury. Surprisingly, Pietro Marino made his return in goal, deputising for the now regular Yenz Cini.
Sliema made only one change from the side that drew with Mosta the previous week as they gave a debut start to Admir Vladavic from Bosnia who played in an advanced midfield position but looked slow and rusty and only showed up with a couple of shotas from promising positions.
Sliema have found goals hard to come by, having scored five in their last three matches, three of them against Balzan. Their reliance on Ohawuchi yesterday again let them down as the forward was starved of service. As a consequence, the Wanderers fired more blanks.
Both goalkeepers were hardly ever tested in this boring match bereft on any excitement let alone any clear cut chances. Valletta’s best chance came on the stroke of halftime. Hamza Barry swivelled past Muscat and Barbetti but his shot was repelled by Sliema keeper Bonello.
Sliema showed some slight improvement after the break, having surrendered the initiative to their opponents for most of the first half.
Vladavic tested keeper Marino with a volley from the edge of the area and the Valletta goalkeeper blocked Ohawuchi’s shot, on a Muscat pass, towards the hour.
Vladavic again forced Marino to save his angled shot on the ground on 70 minutes. Valletta introduced Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza for Naftri soon after but remained careless and profligate in the final third. Denni put his effort off target with a gaping goal in front of him as he connected to Fenech’s headed pass on Nyang’s cross. Nyang had replaced defender Vandelannoite at the start of the second half.
Valletta only increased their efforts in the late stages, mounting some belated pressure. Sliema keeper Bonello stretched himself to hold out Bajada’s shot from the edge of the area.
Sliema made a double substitution with Jacob Borg and Bello Osagie making late entries. Still, Valletta ended the match on the offensice. Other substitute Ian Zammit ran down the right but his cross shot turned into a corner by Bonello as the stalemate prevailed.