City overwhelm Sliema 7-0

It should have been an even encounter between two of the best teams on the island but the second round match of the 1961-62 championship between Valletta and Sliema produced a landslide 7-0 victory for the Citizens.

Yes, it's true! March 18, 1962 went down in the history books as one of the worst days in the history of Sliema Wanderers, eclipsed only by that dreadful day in 1983 when they were relegated for the first and only time since being established.

It's bound to happen to any team some time but when it does, there is no consolation. To lose 7-0 is a humiliation indeed and there is no other way to describe it.

However, when a club with the tradition of the Wanderers suffer such a heavy defeat, it will take years to finally fade from memory.

A look at the Blues' formation that day makes one wonder how a team graced with players of the calibre of Alfred Debono, Robbie Buttigieg, the Bonnici brothers, Joe Cini, Maurice Walsh and John Bonnett could succumb to such a massive defeat.

In football, however, everything is possible. There was not one player in the team who stood his ranks that day except perhaps, goalkeeper Debono. He could hardly be faulted for any of the goals. He tried his utmost to stop the avalanche of goals and it was mainly thanks to him that Sliema did not lose with a greater score.

For Valletta everything went right that day. They took command of the game from the word go and never relinquished their hold. They ran and shot with the haughty assurance of complete masters and controlled every inch of the ground.

At the end, they were so superior that one felt sorry for the Wanderers.

Valletta's victory was a collective achievement. There was mastery in their midfield where Borg and Williams played the leading roles.

Their defence was as solid as a rock but it was the forward line which excelled above all other departments.

All strikers distinguished themselves but the best of the lot were youngsters Calleja and Gauci, both of whom played a blinder.

That just about sums up the game. All that remains are the goals that were scored in the following order.

Hardly four minutes from the start of the game had passed when Mifsud cleared weakly a header by Calleja. The ball fell to Frankie Zammit whose left-footer went into the corner of the net.

Just one minute later, Frankie Zammit robbed Robbie Buttigieg of the ball, drew out Joe Aquilina and passed to Calleja who neatly lobbed it over Debono.

Six minutes later the ball was again in the Sliema net. Joe Zammit shot hard at goal but his effort was blocked. The ball, however, fell to Calleja who promptly lashed it into the net.

Sliema just did not know what hit them. They ran all over the place but with no direction or purpose.

Valletta, on the other hand, kept going forward until the 38th minute when Joe Zammit exchanged passes on the right with Urpani, ran into the box with the ball before beating Debono.

A minute later the same City player had another shot saved on the line with Debono beaten while at the other end, Zarb Cousin dashed out of goal to stop a menacing header by Joe Cini. This was the nearest Sliema had come to scoring although Zarb Cousin was again prominent on the change-over when he blocked another fine try by Cini. Then, a few minutes later, he turned round the post a shot by Leli Micallef who had just come in for Walsh.

The rest of the game was all Valletta's.

In the 57th minute Calleja passed to Joe Zammit who centred perfectly to Frankie Zammit to hit goal no.5.

Six minutes later Zammit sent in another perfect cross to the centre and there was Gauci near the far post to beat Debono with a firm header.

The last goal was netted by Urpani. He latched onto Gauci's inviting centre before slipping the ball into the net to close the day's tally.

Two minutes later, however, Calleja almost completed his hat-trick but Debono flew across goal to effect a fine save. That perhaps would have been too much for poor Sliema.

For the Record

March 18, 1962 - The Empire Stadium, Gzira
League championship
Valletta vs Sliema Wanderers 7-0
Valletta: Zarb Cousin, W. Bone, Schembri, C. Williams, J. Cilia, Borg, J. Zammit, J. Urpani, Calleja, F. Zammit, Gauci.
Sliema Wanderers: A. Debono, J. Bonnici, S. Bonnici, Mifsud, Aquilina (Gatt), R. Buttigieg, M. Walsh (L. Micallef), J. Cini, G. Muscat, J. Bonnett, Spiteri.
Referee: Turu Lentini.