Sliema W.-Hibernians 3-1
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
Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, J. Lima, C. Failla, B. Kristensen, Z. Levnaic, M. Bartolo (B. Muscat), O. Obiefule, L. Edison, J.P. Farrugia (J.Degabriele)
Referee: S. Spiteri
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, T. Debono
Additional assistant refs: G. Tonna, F. Zammit
4th official: P. Apap
Scorers: O. Obiefule 19, A.Vladavic 56 pen, S. Ohawuchi 64, 90+
Yellow cards: C. Gatt Baldacchino, R. Camilleri, J. Mintoff, C. Failla
Red cards: B. Kristensen, C. Failla, C. Gatt Baldacchino
Player of the match: M. Muchardi (Sliema W)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Muchardi 2. A. Bello-Osagie 3. O. Obiefule
Attendance:690
This was a morale boosting win for Sliema Wanderers, after three consecutive draws, in a match that had three players sent off, a penalty and a penalty appeal turned down.
Sliema had to come from a goal down, yet, even when conceding Hibernians opener, against the run of play, the Wanderers still had the determination to take the play to their opponents and deserved their final victory.
Man of the match Matias Muchardi delivered a masterclass both in defence and later in midfield as Stanley Ohawuchi was a slippery constant menace in attack who downed Hibernians with two goals.
Still, Hibernians were so pathetic that it beggared belief that they can call themselves title contenders any more after their side was severely depleted and have now suffered three defeats in their last four matches, in which they managed only one clean sheet. For the second consecutive time, they let their advantage slip away and succumb to another worrisome defeat as they were reduced to nine men for the last quarter hour.
For most of the time, Sliema looked better than their opponents. They attacked with pace and purpose, but they were guilty of some wasteful finishing too, especially in the first half.
Sliema made one forced change from their dismal draw against Valletta. Central defender Stefano Bianciardi was suspended and Alex Muscat moved in to replace him. Muchardi started as left back, with Mark Scerri, Trevor Cilia and Admir Vladavic in midfield, supporting Stanley Ohawuchi and the starting Bello-Osagie up front.
Hibernians also had a notable absentee. The injured Andrew Cohen was replaced by Jean Paul Farrugia. But coach Branko Nisevic made some tactical changes as Clayton Failla was moved in midfield, their four-man backline comprising Camilleri, Levnaic, Pearson and Bartolo.
Sliema made the better start and a Ohawuchi low shot was easily saved by keeper Muscat.
Past the quarter hour, Cilia’s dipping shot was tipped over the bar into a corner by the Hibernians’ shot stopper before Vladavic had two efforts blocked on the left when he should have crossed for his team mates.
Hibernians made the breakthrough on 19 minutes, with their first genuine attack.Obina Obiefule chased Farrugia’s through ball, beat Muscat’s sliding tackle, avoided the onrushing keeper Bonello and steered the ball over the line from a tight angle.
The goal demanded an immediate response from the Wanderers. Towards the half hour, Ohawuchi’s counter cross from the right was headed down by Bello-Osagie to the unmarked Vladavic who lofted the ball. Cilia’s rasping shot took a wicked deflection into a corner before Sliema coach Alfonso Greeco effected a tactical change. He put in Jacob Borg as left back to replace Cilia, with Muchardi advancing in midfield.
Sliema looked more compact and before halftime, Barbetti’s shot from the right was blocked by keeper Muscat.
Sliema went close to equalising five minutes into the second half. Levnaic failed to intercept Bello-Osagie’s cross, but Ohawuchi failed to conclude when blocked by keeper Muscat.
Six minutes later, Camilleri shoved Mintoff off the ball as they challenged each other inside the area to concede a penalty, which Admir Vladavic tucked away after taking a long slow run.
Sliema even turned the match on its head past the hour. Bello-Osagie ran through the Hibernians’ defence, threaded the ball forward to Scerri who in turn found Stanley Ohawuchi clear to beat keeper Muscat with a rising shot.
That drained completely the life out of Hibernians who reverted to niggling fouls and showed a negative attitude after they had what looked like legitimate claims for a penalty turned down by the referee on 72 minutes, when Mintoff held Luis Edison inside the area.
Play was brought to a halt for several minutes with a farcical incident on 75 minutes that led to the sending off of two Hibernians players. Kristensen was shown a straight red for a foul on Vladavic but he refused to go and it took some time until he was convinced to do so by his team mates. The referee was surrounded and shuffled by disgruntled Hibernians players and among all the protests, Failla was shown a yellow card that then turned into red after the player protested too long in a vivacious manner.
With two men less, Hibernians looked in tatters, although on 87 minutes, Sliema keeper Bonello did well to turn lima’s scorcher into a corner.
On the stroke of full time, Sliema’s central defender Gatt Baldacchino was also sent off for a second booking and deep into five minute of added time, the Wanderers sealed the points as Vladavic went past Pearson on the left, his shot was palmed out by keeper Muscat, only as far as Stanley Ohawuchi to tap the ball in from close range for his 14th league gaol.