Sliema W 3
Tarxien R 1
Sliema W. FC: J. Galea, K. Shaw, J. De Assis, A. Norty, F. Temile (Y. Marzouk 55'), M. Sansone, P. Xuereb (S.Cassar 85'), E. Agius, G. Adamovic, J.P. Farrugia (K. Amehi 78'), S. Biancardi
Tarxien R. FC: A. Cassar, J. Wemmer (M. Spiteri 88'), R. Rogac, D. Zerafa, M. Paolucci, G. Aquilina (M. Ciantar 85'), D. Falzon, A. Scicluna, S. Radovanovic (R. Faria 64'), A. De Barros, A. Nilsson
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Asst refs: Edward Spiteri, Paul Apap
4th official: Slobodan Petrovic
Scorers: J. De Assis (p) 31', J. Wemmer 63', K. Sansone 77', Y. Marzouk 80'
Yellow cards: De Assis, Sansone, Falzon, Radovanovic, Cassar
Red Card: M. Paolucci (Tarxien R.)
Player of the match: J. De Assis (Sliema W.)
TMI Top 3: 1. J. De Assis 2. K. Shaw 3. J. Wemmer
Sliema registered their second consecutive win when the beat Tarxien by a 3-1 scoreline. It was far from easy for the Blues though they dominated for long stretches against a ten man Tarxien outfit.
A win which put Sliema momentarily leading the standing together with Balzan on 12 points. Overall it was a merited win for the spirited Blues who are having one of the best starts in recent years.
Mixed fortunes for Tarxien in recent matches. Wins over St. Andrews and Hamrun Spartans and defeats to Gzira United and Mosta have made for an inconsistent start to this campaign.
The Wanderers missed Ryan Fenech through suspension together with Muchardi with Jose' Borg having practically all personnel on board.
Sliema went in search for an early lead and inside the first minutes a Radovanovic low drive went inches wide. Two minutes later the Wanderers had a golden opportunity to forge ahead when following blocked shots by Biancardi and Shaw the ball was handled by Scicluna with the referee awarding the penalty. But from the spot Cassar saved on Temile.
The Blues kept piling on the pressure and in the 18th minute off am Agius cross from the right flank a headed effort by Temile was saved by Cassar. Sliema finally drew first blood just past the half hour when they were awarded the second penalty of the day. Jefferson was tripped by goalkeeper Cassar and from the resultant kick the Sliema striker converted.
The Rainbows failed to mount any kind of reaction and it was Sliema once again when nine minutes from the end of the half Temile found Jefferson only for his shot to just miss the target.
And a disastrious first half ended in disarray for Tarxien as on 45 minutes Paolucci was shown a straight red for a kick on Kurt Shaw.
Though playing with a man less Tarxien went all out for an equalizer and they succeeded in doing so in the 63rd minute. A Jens Wemmer acute shot was deflected by Biancardi past a helpless Galea.
In the final twenty minutes Sliema upped their tempo with Farrugia having a central shot saved by Cassar. Thirteen minutes from the end the Wanderers regained the lead when Nortey supplid the cross with Kurt Sansone volleying home.
And Sliema put the issue beyond doubt in the 80th minute when in a swift counter attack Jefferson squared towards Younes Marzouk who had the easiest of tasks to draft the ball into the net.