Carlo Mamo's salvo puts Wanderers through

Sliema Wanderers 2
Pietà Hotspurs 1
(after extra-time)

Carlo Mamo, the Sliema and Malta defender, yesterday supplied the extra-time salvo that finally divided the teams in a pleasant Trophy quarter-final between the Wanderers and Pietà Hotspurs.

If confirmation were needed that Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia's team is capable of making more-quoted opponents stretch every sinew, it was provided yesterday.

In fact, they were the proverbial whisker away from booking a berth in the semi-finals. But in a dramatic showdown, they conceded the equaliser which brought gasps of derision from their clan.

The Hotspurs thought they had done enough to merit victory despite being on the receiving end for most of the time and surviving a siege in the last quarter of the game. They had led for over an hour.

When Sliema's quicksilver captain Noel Turner struck in added time to finally beat an inspirational Saviour Darmanin, one sensed that all the stuffing would be taken out of Pietà.

Despite some edginess in their play, the Blues' final barrage was complemented in the opening minutes of extra-time with Mamo's winner. After that, experience prevailed as the bold Hotspurs were forced to throw in the towel.

Sliema, the Premier League leaders, were first in action when Turner extended Darmanin. They enjoyed the bulk of possession, forcing Pietà to thicken their midfield ranks. The returning Mamo was next to test Darmanin.

The Hotspurs were banking on Jamie Pace's potential to go on his sizzling runs and on long balls to Ivan Woods and Giacomo Paniccia.

The Wanderers maintained the pressure but Pietà were looking confident with Lee Lombardi and Digger Okonkwo keeping a watchful eye on Orosco Anonam and Danilo Doncic respectively. The latter hit wide while Kevin Sammut was high by centimetres.

Sliema had to pull some inventive trick out of their bag if they wanted to unhinge their opponents' blanket defensive shield.

Suddenly, they found themselves in arrears when Anatole Debono darted past a couple of defenders to hit first-time on the turn for an excellent goal.

Sliema could have conceded a second but Paniccia, put through by Pace, hit the wrong side of the post.

Ten minutes from the interval, Massimo Grima replaced the apparently injured Joe Brincat. Turner was out with an angled shot.

At the other end, Kris Laferla was lucky to escape with just a yellow card when his illegal tackle on the edge of the box prevented Pace from running clear.

A swift move by the Wanderers had Doncic looping a header against the bar. The pattern remained the same with Pietà's sudden breaks constantly threatening to breach Sliema's flimsy rearguard, bent as it was on going up in support of the attacking line.

It was incumbent on Edward Aquilina to infuse some fresh ideas into his outfit if they wanted to break down Pietà's resistance. And obviously, their backdoor could not be left ajar.

Pietà would not budge and Darmanin dealt with all situations. The Wanderers were being constantly crowded out.

Once, a timely tackle by Okonkwo on Anonam averted danger. Generally, though, Sliema's predictable movement was being countered by the Hotspurs' excellent covering, particularly by the stout defensive work from Okonkwo, Aquilina and Gareth Sciberras.

Minutes ticked away with Darmanin growing in stature. He saved splendidly on Said, with the same Blues' player being denied on the line by Aquilina.

The Wanderers intensified their efforts. Darmanin stopped Doncic and then he pulled off another great save on Anonam. He turned out to be the hero for his side.

Alas, he was beaten a minute into added time. A corner from Grima was touched Turner's way with the Sliema utility player rushing in to send the net bulging with a header.

So it was to extra-time and a goal came after three minutes. A short free-kick from Grima was hit exquisitely past Darmanin by the venomous left foot of Mamo.

Pietà were down and out and the Wanderers went on to administer the game through possession football, even if on one occasion Akanji brought a great save on Woods.

Seven minutes from the end, Pace for Pietà was sent off for repeatedly encroaching on a Sliema free-kick.

On the stroke of time, Lombardi blocked Anonam's effort on the line. That made no difference to the result.

Sliema: M. Akanji, I. Ciantar, C. Mamo, B. Said, J. Brincat (M. Grima), N. Turner, K. Sammut (D. Camilleri), D. Doncic, J. Chetcuti, O. Anonam, K. Laferla.

Pietà: S. Darmanin, P. Aquilina, D. Okonkwo (S. Cappitta), G. Sciberras, I. Woods, G. Paniccia, K. Mamo, L. Lombardi, V. Obidimalor (C. Camilleri), A. Debono, J. Pace.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Scorers: Debono 27th; Turner 90th; Mamo 93rd.

Yellow Cards: Laferla; Ciantar; Obidimalor; Woods; Pace; Aquilina.

Red Card: J. Pace 113th.