Three off as Sliema start on winning note

Birkirkara 0
Sliema Wanderers 1

Sliema Wanderers drew first blood in what is expected to be another season of close competition with rivals Birkirkara.

An 80th minute goal from Stefan Giglio, seemingly back to full fitness after an injury-plagued 2005-2006 season, enabled Sliema, winners of this warm-up tournament last year, to edge out Birkirkara in a pleasant Euro Challenge Cup opener.

Although the two teams are still a long way from optimal fitness, they still managed to deliver a keenly contested encounter which produced three red cards inside the opening 55 minutes.

Sliema's victory means that Hibs, the other team in the competition, will play Birkirkara tomorrow.

Hatim Sbai, a young Moroccan winger, was the only newcomer in either team's line-up yesterday. Following their decision to part ways with the three overseas players who helped them win the league title last season, Birkirkara have yet to finalise their foreigners' line-up for the new campaign.

This is somewhat surprising in light of the fact that Birkirkara, together with Sliema and Hibs, have European commitments to attend to as early as next week.

Coaches Stephen Azzopardi and Edward Aquilina relied on a bunch of young players and others who have returned to their fold following loan spells elsewhere.

Ian Ciantar, Adrian Mifsud, Claude Mattocks and John Mintoff started the game for Sliema who had young goalkeeper Henry Bonello deputising for the injured Murphy Akanji. Czech midfielder Zdenek Svoboda, signed in the close season as a replacement for Danilo Doncic, missed the game with a calf injury.

Other key players were also absent from the Blues' squad as they are still recovering from injuries.

The likes of goalkeeper Bernard Paris, Alan Tabone, Thomas Paris and Steve Sadowski earned a place in Azzopardi's starting line-up but a host of established personnel, including the unsettled Etienne Barbara, were absent for Birkirkara.

There was a friendly feel to the early proceedings but after 14 minutes, the game threw up its first contentious episode.

Paris dashed out of his penalty area to clear a long pass but he looked to nudge the ball with his outstretched hands. Referee Adrian Casha instantly blew his whistle and flashed the red card in the face of the young netminder.

Reserve goalkeeper Joshua Galea, having come on for forward Tabone, was soon called into action, tipping away the ensuing free-kick from Giglio. The agile Galea continued to grab the attention for the right reasons with saves from Mifsud and Bajada. On 27 minutes, a sizzling cross-shot from David Carabott came off the near post.

Ten minutes from half-time, Mifsud should have opened his Sliema account when Giglio's lofted pass found him alone inside the box but the former Floriana striker dragged his rising shot wide.

Birkirkara's erstwhile flailing spirits received a boost three minutes from half-time when Sliema's numerical advantage was wiped out.

Having evaded the dogged marking of Sadowski, Bajada, until then a hard-working performer in Sliema's midfield, looked to have raised his elbow at the Birkirkara right-back and was immediately sent off.

Less than four minutes into the second half, the Wanderers might have taken the lead. Overlapping down the left flank, Mattocks served Mintoff but the miscued volley from the Sliema youngster was easily blocked by Galea.

That was to be Mintoff's last significant contribution for 10 minutes into the second half, the Sliema forward was red-carded after he collected a second booking.

Still, it was the Blues who again had the best chance to nose ahead but Giglio's strike brought another fine save from Galea.

Close to the hour mark, the Stripes, now enjoying numerical superiority, threatened to score but Michael Galea's header from a Jonathan Holland cross sailed wide.

Holland then curled a free-kick past Sliema's wall but Bonello palmed away for a corner.

As Sbai continued to struggle to leave his mark on the left, Birkirkara oozed more menace when attacking from the right.

On one occasion, Birkirkara's Paris put over a teasing cross from the right but Galea failed to make contact. Thirteen minutes from time, Birkirkara won a penalty for a suspected handball by Ciantar but Galea's attempt was stopped by the excellent Bonello.

Birkirkara's frustration at missing such a glaring chance to move ahead increased when Sliema struck the winner 10 minutes from time.

The goal that mattered came from a powerful Giglio header after a well-taken free-kick from Mattocks.

Birkirkara: B. Paris, K. Scicluna, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, A. Tabone ('15 J. Galea), M. Galea, T. Paris, J. Holland ('84 L. Stivala), H. Sbai, G. Mallia, S. Sadowski ('74 R. Mifsud).

Sliema: H. Bonello, M. Di Lello, I. Ciantar, B. Said, D. Carabott, S. Giglio, R. Bajada, C. Mattocks, L. Lombardi ('90 A. Muscat), J. Mintoff, A. Mifsud ('90 A. Scerri).

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Scorer: Giglio 80.

Yellow Cards: Sbai; Mintoff; Camenzuli; Muscat.

Red Cards: B. Paris 14; Bajada 42; Mintoff 55.

Playing tomorrow

6 p.m. Hibernians vs Birkirkara