Substitute Anonam keeps Sliema flying high

Sliema Wanderers 2
Pietà Hotspurs 1

Sliema Wanderers completed their first phase commitments on a winning note yesterday but how they were made to fight hard for the points by a resilient Pietà Hotspurs side.

Having gained only two points from their last two matches after drawing 2-2 with Valletta and 0-0 against Marsaxlokk, the title-seeking Wanderers took to this match fully intent on collecting maximum spoils to keep up the pace at the top.

What looked like a straightforward task for the Wanderers, suddenly became an uphill struggle as Pietà, buoyed by their 5-0 thrashing of Mqabba and driven on by the happy memories of their headline-grabbing 1-0 win in the corresponding first-round fixture, were ahead as early as the third minute.

It took Sliema a while to shake off that early setback but a 19th-minute own goal by Bernard Sciberras eased the pressure on the Wanderers.

Stephen Azzopardi's men went on to dominate proceedings as substitute Orosco Anonam hit the target midway through the second half to earn his side a 2-1 win and a share of top spot with Valletta and Marsaxlokk, although the latter two teams will start the Championship Pool ahead of Sliema if they win their outstanding matches.

Azzopardi left Branko Nisevic out of the first XI as he opted for a central defensive partnership of Brian Said and Jeffrey Chetcuti. Midfielder Andre Rocha Da Silva was ruled out by suspension and his Brazilian compatriot Carlos Ventura is injured.

Positive news for Sliema was the return to fitness of Matthew Bartolo who was back in the starting XI.

Pietà coach Carmel Busuttil was beset by the absence of Bulgarian midfielder Svetlan Kondev due to suspension.

Pietà took a surprise lead after three minutes. Martin Deanov's cross from a right-wing free-kick caught the Sliema defence unawares as Carl Pulo dashed in to head past Murphy Akanji.

On 12 minutes, the Hotspurs had the ball in the net, Quilin Refalo beating Akanji from close range but the 'goal' was disallowed as the Pietà striker was adjudged to have been in an offside position.

One expected Sliema to be stung into action by Pulo's early opener for Pietà but the Wanderers were finding it hard to infuse a semblance of fluidity in their play.

Feelings of joy and relief gripped the Sliema clan after 19 minutes as Pietà defender Bernard Sciberras struck the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear a pass from Roderick Briffa.

Miguel Montfort, the Pietà goalkeeper, then beat away a firm drive from Roderick Bajada as Sliema raised their efforts to stamp their authority on the match. However, Pietà refused to give in.

Ten minutes from half-time, Bajada delivered a menacing cross from a corner but Mark Scerri's tame header was easily saved by Montfort.

Azzopardi was forced into his first substitution six minutes from the break after right-back Alex Muscat appeared to pull his hamstring as he was chasing a long pass by Scerri. Nisevic came on for the stricken Muscat, the Serbian-born defender taking a central role as Chetcuti was switched to right-back.

In the dying minutes of the first half, Barbara swivelled inside the box before hitting a strong shot which sailed the wrong side of the near post.

At the start of the second half, Dylan Kokavessis replaced Refalo who had been largely ineffective as Pietà's sole forward in the first half.

Five minutes into the second half, Sliema came close to taking the lead. Woods slipped a through-pass to Bajada who closed in on goal before squaring to Barbara who looked certain to score but dithered, allowing Montfort to repel his effort. The loose ball rolled to Briffa but the latter's attempt was diverted away for a corner as Pietà were let off the hook.

Although they were the more enterprising team, Sliema only attacked sporadically. The second half was 19 minutes old when Bajada swung over a cross from a corner and Bajada headed marginally wide.

Sensing his side's troubles to put their battling opponents in place, Azzopardi brought on Orosco Anonam, a player with attacking qualities, instead of left-back Azzopardi.

It took Anonam only three minutes to leave his mark as the former Malta international outran Galabov before drilling a low shot past Montfort.

Sliema might have steered clear of the Hotspurs when Bajada, enjoying an unhindered view of Pietà's goal, pulled the trigger but his effort hit a defender and whistled wide of the far post.

Sliema: M. Akanji-5, A. Muscat-6 ('38 B. Nisevic-6), I. Azzopardi-5 ('65 O. Anonam-6.5), B. Said-5.5, M. Scerri-5.5, R. Bajada-6, M. Bartolo-6.5 ('82 N. Turner), J. Chetcuti-6, I. Woods-6, R. Briffa-6, E. Barbara-6.

Pietà: M. Montfort-6.5, C. Cassar-5.5, B. Sciberras-5, M. Deanov-5.5, S. Ciscaldi-5.5, Q. Refalo-5 ('46 D. Kokavessis-5), C. Pulo-6.5, C. Sammut-6, D. Mifsud-6.5 ('83 R. Grippa), E. Herrera-6 ('57 D. Gera), R. Galabov-6.5.

Referee: Saviour Tanti.

Scorers: Pulo 3; Sciberras 19 og; Anonam 68.

BoV Player of the match: Matthew Bartolo (Sliema).