No goals in dull Old Firm clash

Floriana 0
Sliema Wanderers 0

The first Old Firm derby of the 2008-09 season was such a turgid affair that the few highlights it offered came from Floriana goalkeeper Dejan Maksic, who was voted player of the match thanks to a string of timely saves.

This being the first Premier League match after the international break, one hoped that an entertaining and competitive duel between Sliema and Floriana would help to assuage the disappointment caused by Malta's defeats but such optimism proved misplaced.

A goalless draw was the inevitable outcome to a match in which scoring chances were a rare commodity. It was only in the final 15 minutes that Sliema mounted a bout of pressure but it was a case of too little, too late and Floriana's obdurate defence managed to keep their goal intact and maintain their unbeaten start.

Kosta Bjedov had to watch yesterday's game from the stands after receiving a one-match ban for his red card in the victory over Ħamrun.

Another regular Sliema player, striker Ivan Woods, was named among the substitutes as he has yet to fully recuperate from the thigh strain suffered during Malta's 4-0 defeat to Portugal.

Ian Azzopardi skipped Malta's opening World Cup qualifiers for personal reasons but the Sliema defender was in Stephen Azzopardi's starting XI yesterday.

Floriana coach Zoran Popovic was able to choose his team from a full squad. Orosco Anonam and Aleksandar Madzar, who both joined Floriana in the close season, were gunning against their former team-mates yesterday.

The early stages were bereft of creative and incisive football with the result that scoring chances were few and far between.

Sliema's makeshift attack, featuring two flank players, Matthew Bartolo and Alex Muscat, posed little threat to Floriana's four-man defence. Close to the 28th minute, the Blues might have taken a surprise lead when Daniel Saverino's corner was only half-cleared as far as Roderick Briffa, yesterday deployed in central midfield, whose shot on the turn was blocked by Maksic.

At the other end, a first-time volley by Ryan Darmanin sailed wide after the Floriana striker had been picked out by Madzar.

The proceedings livened up slightly as the first half moved on. Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper, had to rush out to push the ball away from Darmanin.

Referee Attard's half-time whistle brought to an end a forgettable first half that certainly failed to excite the paltry crowd at the National Stadium.

The introduction of Woods for Mark Scerri just past the hour mark ought to have increased Sliema fans' optimism of an improved attacking display by their side.

Floriana's right-back Duncan Pisani and Sliema's Bartolo were lucky to escape with just a yellow card after the two had pushed and shoved each other as they tried to gain possession.

The first notable scoring chance of the second half fell to Sliema on 68 minutes. The speedy Bartolo sprinted past Sunday Eboh but his lob was warded off by Maksic.

Woods' effective shielding of the ball and intelligent running boosted Sliema's attacking prowess. Nine minutes from time, a good one-two between Woods and Bartolo ended with the latter shooting just wide of the near post.

Sliema might have snatched a late winner but Woods' header, from Bajada's corner, was deflected away for a corner.

Floriana
D. Maksic-7, S. Eboh-6.5, J. Briffa-6, D. Pisani-6.5, C. Camoin-6, M. Brincat-6 ('90 J. Borg), P. Doffo-6.5, O. Anonam-5, L. Agius-5 ('82 M. Gauci), A. Madzar-5.5 ('67 C. Caruana-5), R. Darmanin-5.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-5.5 ('83 C. Gatt Baldacchino), I. Azzopardi-6, B. Nisevic-6.5, M.Scerri-5.5 ('61 I. Woods-6.5), M. Bartolo-6.5, J. Chetcuti-5.5, D. Saverino-5 ('85 N. Turner), I. Ciantar-6, R. Bajada-5, R. Briffa-6.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Yellow cards: Azzopardi; Madzar; Darmanin; Bartolo; Brincat; Caruana; Briffa; Nisevic.

BoV Player of the match: Dejan Maksic (Floriana).