PEMBROKE ATHLETA- 0
SLIEMA WANDERERS - 1
Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, Z. Levnaic, B. Muscat, M. Micallef, P. Barbetti, S. Arab (M. Attard), C. Gauci (O. Maksymov) , A. Scozzese, J. Mariano, M. Regis, B. Manevski
Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, G. Muir, R. Vilas Boas, P. Xuereb, S. Wisdom (M. Sansone), M. Muchardi, M. Potezica, M. Scerri (G. Aquilina), J.P. Farrugia, R. Spiteri (A. Tarlaziz)
Referee: E. Grech
Asst.refs: T. Debono, J. Spiteri
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: A. Tarlaziz 89
Yellow cards: M. Micallef, G. Muir, P. Xuereb
Player of the match: M. Muchardi (Sliema W)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Mucahrdi 2. B. Manevski 3. S. Arab
Sliema Wanderers dealt neighbours Pembroke Athleta a cruel blow at the Victor Tedesco Stadium yesterday. Substitute Armando Tarlaziz gave the Wanderers victory with a late winner in a poor game which neither side deserved to win.
The match was heading towards a drab draw but Sliema stole the points with only one minute of normal time remaining.
They dominated possession but they struggled to outmanoeuvre a well-drilled Pembroke side that played with appetite although found wanting in their cutting edge.
Mattias Muchardi was central to what Sliema did muster, although that was little and far between.
Pembroke’s problems had been well-documented – the dismal run of results, the lack of creativity and goals – but they looked more than capable of avoiding defeat yesterday.
Their new coach, the Macedonian Altim Shakiri, who replaced Winston Muscat, was forced to make one substitution from the side that lost to St Andrews as defender Djeljilj was suspended and replaced by Borche Manevski. Manolito Micallef was deployed as left back with Manevski playing in an influential advanced midfield role.
Sliema were without the suspended John Mintoff, replaced by the returning Marko Potezica, as Ryan Spiteri got the nod ahead of Denni Dos Santos.
The Wanderers had entered the game as the team in better form, having won three matches on the trot, while Pembroke had never had so few Premier League points after the first eight matches of a season
But Sliema could not find their fluency – they were slow and flat, and it was surprising to see how few clearcut chances they created. The closest they went was shortly before halftime when Jean Paul Farrugia picked Wisdom’s pass, advanced on the right and unleashed a hard shot that Pembroek keeper Calleja Cremona did well to stretch himself and hold out.
They even lost Mark Scerri, injured, past the half hour, to be substituted by Gabriel Aquilina.
Not that Pembroke were much better though. After seven minutes Siraj Arab almost capitalised on some hesitation in the Sliema defence but his lob missed the target.
On 20 minutes Mariano mishit Arab’s cross and Gauci skied the loose ball from the edge of the area.
Neither side showed much urgency in the second period, although Sliema held more to possession. Spiteri found space to shoot. The ball travelled not far from target.
The teams were also erratic in their execution of set pieces. Regis central free kick short of the hour presented no trouble for Sliema keeper Zammit. Muchardi’s free kick on 68 minutes also went narrowly over.
As the minutes ticked off and the match looked petering out to a fair draw, Sliema scored on 89th minutes. Pembroke keeper Calleja Cremona failed to intercept Vilas Boas’ cross and Armando Tarlaziz scored with a grounder to break Pembroke’s hearts.
HIBERNIANS - 1
ST ANDREWS - 0
Hibernians: A. Hogg, D. Vella (J. Varea), J. Pearson (R. Telles), J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias, B. Kristensen, A. Agius, J. Mbong, Jorginho, J. Degabriele (C. Failla)
St Andrews: J. Galea, M. Johnson (R. Darmanin), K. Kesinovic, B. Che, F. Udoh (G. McKay), E. Beltre, K. Nwoko, J. Farrugia, D. Camilleri, Z. Kastrevec, I. Paz (J. Walker)
Referee: M. Degabriele
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, M. Borg
4th official: F. Zammit
Scorers: J. Lima 10
Yellow cards: J. Mbong, J. Pearson, D. Camilleri, M. Johnson
Red card: J. Mbong
Player of the match: J. Lima (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Lima 2. K. Kesinovic 3. B. Che
Attendance: 494
Hibernians overcame an assured St Andrews’ display, with a hard fought win thanks to a Jackson Lima scorcher after only ten minutes play. The Paolites thus returned to victory after two successive draws that lifts them in joint third place with Valletta.
The win takes a bigger dimension, considering that it was achieved with ten men for the last half hour, after Hibernians had Joseph Mbong sent off for two cautions.
In the absence of Renan Telles, Bjorn Kristensen played in a more advanced role for Hibernians with Dunstan Vella handed a start in front of the Paolites’ three-man defence including Rodolfo Soares, Andrei Agius and Jonathan Pearson.
St Andrews’ unlikely comeback never materialised although they had their own chances and were even denied by the woodwork in the first half, as they fielded an unchanged side after their 4-1 win against Pembroke the previous week.
The match had a very bright start and there were early chances from both sides, with Hibernians posing the first threat in the opening minutes. Lima played a low free kick for the unmarked Mbong but he was blocked by keeper Galea’s outstretched leg.
St Andrews also went close on seven minutes. From a Paz’s corner, Che’s header rebounded off the upright.
And after Degabriele turned well inside the Saints’ area but shot wide, Jackson Lima opened the scoring for Hibernians after 10 minutes, unleashing a drilling shot from outside the area after St Andrews failed to defend their lines.
The atmosphere was subdued after Hibernians’ lead, even because St Andrews’ coach Danilo Doncic has established a high-pressing attack and well-organised defensive unit that frustrated the Paolites.
In truth, goalmouth action was limited during the second half played with little space.
Ten minutes after the interval Pembroke went close to an equaliser with a well-taken Farrugia free kick that went narrowly over.
Towards the hour Hibernians fluffed a good opportunity when the St Andrews’ keeper rushed out to kick the ball upfield, it fell to the advancing Kristensen who failed to put it into an empty net, missing the target.
Hibernians even introduced Renan Telles for Pearson but on 64 minutes they were down to ten men when Joseph Mbong was shown a second yellow card in the match.
Coach Mark Miller withdrew Degabriele and put in Clayton Failla to bolster his defence, expecting St Andrews to make a reaction. That came in the form of Paz being substituted by Jacob Walker.
Other substitute Godwin McKay’s dipper with seven minutes remaining, had keeper Hogg tipping the ball over the bar.
But the Saints could not craft clear opportunities despite late pressure.
Hibernians responded well and the merits of victory were not in dispute.