Late Woods goal denies champs

Sliema wanderers 1
Woods 85
Valletta 1
Tolometti 19

A late goal from Ivan Woods denied Valletta a winning start to their title defence as the Wanderers forward struck five minutes from time to cancel out Marcelo Tolometti's first-half wonder goal and earn the Wanderers a valuable point.

Rightly billed the match of the week, the Citizens started the campaign with a much-awaited contest against Sliema Wanderers.

While the Lilywhites were very active in the transfer market and bolstered their side with the recruitment of new blood including the likes of Malta internationals Jamie Pace and Cleavon Frendo plus Brazilian forward Marcelo 'Peabiru' Tolometti, the Blues made little additions to their personnel with Serbian Kosta Bjedov the only debutant in coach Stephen Azzopardi's starting XI yesterday.

Despite having to do without injured goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and the suspended Luke Dimech, Valletta coach Paul Zammit still had a very strong squad at his disposal with Kenneth Scicluna and Josef Mifsud marshalling the defence, Stefan Giglio and Jamie Pace leading an experienced midfield and debutant Tolometti leading their forward line.

Valletta were expected to find little difficulty in dictating play and scoring goals. Add to this equation the versatility of Priso Doding and the experience of skipper Gilbert Agius and any football enthusiast would argue that this is one of the best ever squads assembled by the Citizens.

Yet football is won on the pitch and Sliema played a stout game, closing in every time the Valletta players surged forward.

Referee Clayton Pisani opted for a no nonsense approach and this resulted in six Valletta players being cautioned with Sliema's sole culprit being Ian Ciantar.

The opening exchanges were shorn of any goalmouth action as play was restricted to midfield.

Just after the first quarter, Serbian Bjedov suffered a knock to the back of his head and required some lengthy treatment off the field. It was precisely four minutes later with Bjedov still on the sidelines that the champions broke the deadlock.

Ciantar was cautioned for a foul and Justin Grioli quickly lofted the free-kick deep inside the penalty area. Tolometti was the first player to make contact with the ball and the striker displayed some agile Brazilian samba with his back to goal as he pulled off an amazing overhead kick that had the ball trickling into the net past a stunned Bonello.

Two minutes past the half hour, Ian Zammit's diagonal shot forced Bonello to push the ball to a corner.

Hardly a minute later, Zammit tried his luck a second time with a looping shot that had Bonello clutching in masterly technique to prevent Valletta from doubling their lead.

The Blues managed a corner inside the last ten minutes of the first half and when Azzopardi flashed in with a glancing header the Sliema faithful thought he had done enough to draw his side level but the effort glided inches wide.

Late in the first half, Ciantar's timely yet risky tackle inside the area prevented the agile Priso from having a clear scoring opportunity as the Cameroon player seemed to be through on goal.

Bezzina was the next player to receive the yellow card for tumbling Bjedov to the ground. Azzopardi attempted to curl the resulting free-kick into the top corner of the net but his effort did not trouble young Nicky Vella.

The change of ends brought a more spirited Sliema side with Bartolo, Woods and Bjedov trying their utmost to make their opponents wilt.

With Mifsud policing the offside game to near perfection, the Wanderers often endured the frustration of being flagged offside after outpacing their markers.

Shy of the hour, Zammit's cross found Tolometti who headed just wide.

On 75 minutes Vella slid a measured low cross towards Woods who dummied diligently before cracking a curling shot that had the Valletta fans holding their breath as the attempt oozed close to the bar.

Five minutes from time Sliema managed to equalise.

Alex Muscat's cross was touched by Woods just enough to deceive Vella and level matters.

Sliema:
H. Bonello-6.5, A. Muscat-7, I. Azzopardi-7, N. Turner-6.5 ('46 B. Nisevic-6), K. Bjedov-6.5 ('66 J. Mintoff-6), M. Bartolo-8 ('77 C. Ciantar), J. Chetcuti-6.5, I. Woods-6.5, I. Ciantar-7.5, J. Vella-7, R. Briffa-6.5.

Valletta:
N. Vella-6.5, J. Grioli-6.5, J. Mifsud-7, K. Scicluna-7, S. Bezzina-7.5, S. Giglio, J. Pace-6, G. Agius-6.5 ('88 E. Agius), N. Priso-6.5, M. Tolometti-7.5 ('76 C. Frendo), I. Zammit-6.5 ('63 D. Camilleri-7).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Ciantar, Agius, Bezzina, Giglio, Pace, Mifsud, Grioli.

BOV player of the match: Matthew Bartolo (Sliema Wanderers).

Next fixtures (National Stadium):

Friday: 8 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Valletta. Saturday: 5 p.m. Msida vs Tarxien; 7 p.m. Hamrun Spartans vs Sliema Wanderers. Sunday: 5 p.m. Qormi vs Hibernians; 7 p.m. Birkirkara vs Floriana.