Sliema-Qormi 0-0
Sliema: G. Zammit, L. Martinelli, M. Potezica, J. Mintoff, M. Scerri, M. Mifsud (F. Talato 46’), A. Pisanu (T. Cilia 46’), C. Gatt Baldacchino, K. Gnabouyou (P. Xuereb 90’), P. Barbetti, S. Biancardi
Qormi: M. Farrugia, J. Bondin, A. Quatrochi Santos, E. Vella, D. Pisani, B. Bondin, R. Micallef (J. Chetcuti 76’), Z. Levniac, A. Bruce, A. Effiong (S. Agius 90’), F. Temile
Yellow Cards: M. Mifsud 22’, L. Martinelli 44’, M. Scerri 57’, P. Barbetti 81’ (S), F. Temile 57’, Z. Levniac 73’ (Q)
Referee: Philip Farrugia,
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Edward Spiteri
BOV Player of the Match: Marco Potezica (Sliema Wanderers)
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Potezica (Q), 2. F. Temile (Q), 3. Z. Levniac (Q)
In a boring match Sliema and Qormi shared the spoils in a goaless draw. It was a balanced game but most of the play was played in the midfield area and there weren’t many actions towards both posts.
It was Qormi’s first draw of the season after two defeats against Hibernians and Balzan while Sliema continued to disappoint and are still searching for the first win after three draws and a defeat.
The Italian coach Alfonso Greco made three changes from their last game against Hibernians when Luca Martinelli and Mark Scerri started insteas of Beppe Muscat and Filippo Scozzese while Kassy Guy Gnabouyou played his first game for the club and took the place of Trevor Cilia. Missing for Sliema once again was captain Alex Muscat.
Greco started with a 4-3-1-2 formation with Italian Pisanu giving support to the disappointing Michael Mifsud and Gnabouyou.
On the other side Qormi coach Josef Mansueto made four changes from their defeat against Balzan. Youngster Ryan Micallef started ahead of Joseph Chetcuti while Bjorn Bondin, Albert Bruce and Emerson Vella took the place of Roderick Sammut, Mazzetti and Steve Agius respectively.
Mansueto decided to opt for his typical formation 4-3-3 with the trio of Micallef, Effiong and Temile rotating their positions during the game. Santos served as protection in front of the defence and dictated play while picking the ball to start their attacks. Levniac was shifted as a central defender and he formed a good couple with Jonathan Bondin.
The first action to note came on the 17th minute when a shot from distance by Albert Bruce finished over the bar. The game continued in the midfield zone and we had to wait till the 34th minute when Sliema tried with a shot from mark Scerri but it finished well off from the post. Sliema had the best action of the first half few minutes later when Gnabouyou crossed in the box to Michael Mifsud who tried but his header was deflected into a corner.
Alfonso Greco made two changes in attack at the beginning of the second half and looked better than their opponents and went close in the 51st minute when a shot from distance by substitute Talato was turned into a corner by Farrugia. Four minutes later Gnabouyou passed to the other substitute Trevor Ciliawho tried with a diagonal shot but the shot finished wide. The match continued to lose its rhythm with no team dictating play. Qormi tried to score the important goal in the last minutes but they weren’t dangerous apart from a shot by Duncan Pisani which finished over the bar. Sliema went close to win one minute from the 90th minute when from a Trevor Cilia corner, Biancardi tried to conclude with a header buy Qormi managed to clear the danger.