Sliema Wanderrs-Floriana 1-1

Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat (T. Cilia), A. Scozzese, M. Potezika, M. Scerri (J. Mintoff), M. Mifsud, A. Pisanu (P. Xuereb), C. Gatt Baldacchino,  P. Barbetti, B. Muscat, S. Bianciardi

Floriana: V. Senatore, D. Moreira Cobo, E. Marcelina (G. Muir), S. Pisani, C. Borg, V. Plut (G. Galea), M. Piciollo, E. Briffa, B. Farrugia (J. Borg), S. Borg, S. Bonnici

Referee: C. Lautier

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Abela

4th official: P. Farrugia

Scorers: M. Piciollo 50

Yellow cards: B. Muscat, M. Scerri, S. Bonnici, B. Farrugia, A. Scozzese

Player of the match: M. Piciollo (Floriana)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Piciollo  2. A. Pisanu  3. M. Potezica

Attendance: 971

This draw in the ‘Old Firm’ derby leaves both Sliema Wanderers and Floriana winless after two league matches.

No prizes for guessing where improvement is required in these two teams. On a less than inspiring afternoon,which however produced two spectacular goals through individual efforts, Sliema were  again denied three points through a combination of ill luck and the absence of a cutting edge in front of goal.

Floriana were in control for most of the game, creating some decent chances in the first half and deservingly taking the lead at the start of the second.

But after being caught out by Sliema’s equaliser on 72 minutes, they failed to put a shot on target and ended up defending grimly to preserve a point.

The Greens made four changes following their embarassing defeat against Hibernians on the opening day and showed some improvement. Their two new signings, Italian keeper Valerio Senatore and Brazilian central defender Douglas Cobo, as well as Steve Pisani and Emanuel Briffa, were making their first appearances for the Greens this season. Joseph Borg and Gary Muir were relegated to the bench.

Sliema only made one change, with Beppe Muscat given a start ahead of John Mintoff, from the side that drew against Tarxien Rainbows.

The Wanderers did start brightly before fading away. Twice they threatened to score within the opeing 15 minutes, first when Mifsud hooked a Barbetti free kick inside the Floriana area but completley missed the target, and then Pisanu whacked his freekick against the bar, after Mifsud was fouled outside the Floriana area.

The half’s best chance fell to Floriana though after 23 minutes. Piciollo played the ball square to the unmarked Plut who shot straight on keeper Zammit and the chance went to waste.

Floriana again went close just before the break. Plut advance from midfield, played the ball to Piciollo, whose effort was footed out by the Sliema keeper to preserve the scoreless stalemate.

The introduction of John Mintoff for Scerri, wide on the right, at the start of the second half, implied a tactical change for Sliema as Potezica moved in the middle and Alex Muscat was shifted on the left flank.

But it took Floriana only five minutes to break the deadlock as Matteo Piciollo took possession outside the Sliema area on the left and, when crowded by four Sliema players, he unleashed a spectacular curling shot towards the top left-hand corner past the surprised keeper Zammit.

Sliema were visibly rattled although Alex Muscat’s run from the left ended with a diagonal shot going narrowly wide. To add to their woes, their captain Muscat limped off past the hour, following a late tackle by Farrugia, and was substituted by Trevor Cilia.

Soon after, Farrugia himself should have doubled Floriana’s lead. The ball fell invitingly to him when standing unhindered inside the Sliema area in a dubious offside position. The flag did not go up though but Farrugia shot wastefully wide.

Floriana were made to pay for that miss. On 72 minutes, susbstitute Cilia played a long ball for Andrea Pisanu to chase and, with the Floriana keeper Senatore off his line, beat him with a delicate lob.

Sliema could have even bagged full points as they looked dominant towards the end. Eight minutes from time, Pisanu failed to make decent contact with Potezica’s cross from the left and on the stoke of full time, Mifsud forced keeper Senatore into a difficult save, deflecting his shot into a corner.

In the final analysis, a draw was a fair result though.