Vittoriosa S.-Sliema W. 1-2

Vittoriosa S: S. Cini, O. Sidibe, M. Buttigieg, M. Garcia (S. Bamba), Samir Arab, O. Guerrero, C. Spiteri (C. Brincat), G. Martin, M. Pereira, F. Arriagada, M. Camilleri (L. Vella Critien)

Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Mintoff( I. Woods), A. Vladavic, S. Ohawuchi, T. Cilia, J. Borg , P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi, B. Muscat, S. Bianciardi

Referee:  P. Caruana

Asst.refs:  C. Francalanza, P. Abela

Additional assistant refs: M. Apap, S. Spiteri

4th official: A. Camilleri

Scorers: M. Muchardi 53, M. Pereira 57, T. Cilia 59

Yellow cards: P. Barbetti, F. Arriagada, B. Muscat, S. Bianciardi

Player of the match: T. Cilia (Sliema W)

TMI top 3:  1. T. Cilia  2. M. Muchardi  3. S. Arab

Second half goals by their best two players Matias Muchardi and Trevor Cilia, gave Sliema Wanderers a hard fought win over Vittoriosa Stars.

Despite their overall supremacy and deserved victory, the Wanderers had to struggle for the points and can only thank Oscar Guerrero for his penalty miss on 77 minutes, after themselves squandering several chances, especially in the second half.

Sliema had central defender Stefano Bianciardi back from suspension, although Clifford Gatt Baldacchino was himself suspended yesterday. Mark Scerri was named among the substitutes and the injured Bello-Osagie was not included in their squad.

The windy conditions at Ta’Qali rendered ball control difficult, especially for the more technical Sliema players, but at the same time enabled defensive Vittoriosa to hold better ground than they did against Valletta the previous week.

For all their defensive approach, Vittoriosa were almost always in the match and could have even snatched a point, but Guerrero contrived to miss a penalty with his side trailing 2-1.

The Stars had Felipe Aguiar missing and dropped Luke Vella Critien and Siraj Arab to the bench, giving starts to Clive Spiteri, Gilbert Martin and Francisco Arriagada. They had coach Oliver Spiteri serving a two-match ban, with assistant Jean Paul Desira in charge yesterday.

The runs of Ohawuchi and Vladavic created some inviting spaces for Trevor Cilia who loitered around the Vittoriosa area with some purpose.

The Sliema winger had looked dangerous throughout the opening exchanges without coming up with a decent final ball. Cilia lacked accuracy when served well with a low pass from Vladavic towards the half hour. The much involved Vladavic had his first time shot, on Ohawuci’s cross, easily saved by Vittoriosa keeper Cini and Sliema went close again with an Alex Muscat low drive from a Vladavic corner.

On the half hour, Vittoriosa, whose only shot on target came from Guerrero after 11 minutes, were forced to replace the injured wide back Camilleri with Vella Critien.

Sliema however only looked menacing with two headed eforts by Alex Muscta and Bianciardi from set pieces.

Sliema continued to do more of the attacking as the second half began and when Muchardi put Vladevic clear inside the Vittoriosa area, keeper Cini rushed out to block. And when they finally raised their game, the goals started flowing at both ends in a six-minute spell.

The Wanderers broke the deadlock on 53 minutes. Vladevic’s shot from inside the area on the right was blocked in the path of Matias Muchardi to beat keeper Cini with a low diagonal strike.

Sliema almost doubled their lead within a minute. Cilia’s goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Arab.

Equilibrium was restored on 57 minutes. Garcia advanced on the left, delivered a perfect cross for Marcelo Pereira to steer the ball past helpless keeper Bonello.

The Stars’ joy lasted only two minute though. Vladevic’s pass beat the Vittortiosa offside trap for Trevor Cilia to run clear and beat the onrushing keeper Cini.

Sliema should have made the points safe after that but fluffed two good chances. Ohawuchi lofted the ball on Cilia’s crosss from the right and then substitute Woods shot wide on Ohawuchi’s pass.

The Wanderers almost paid a price for their profligacy when, on 77 minutes, Bianciardi fouled Pereira inside the area to concede a penalty. Guerrero, however, blasted his shot from the spot kick well over the bar and the Stars’ chance went to waste.

With two minutes remaining, keeper Bonello missed the flight of the ball on Guerrero’s cross but, luckily for the Wanderers, Sidibe headed off target.