Brisk Spartans rattle inept Blues

Sliema Wanderers 0
Ħamrun Spartans 3
Levnaic 13; Cucciardi 43 pen; Micallef 62

The formbook was torn to shreds yesterday as Ħamrun Spartans, who started the day as the basement team of the Premier League, humbled the high-flying Sliema Wanderers 3-0.

Having won only once in 10 matches, the Spartans came into this second round game as underdogs. But, buoyed by a solid start and an early goal, they not only managed to nullify their opponents' much-vaunted threat but were the sprightlier side going forward.

The absence of strikers Gaetan Spiteri, suspended, and the flu-stricken Dylan Kokavessis, meant that veteran Stefan Sultana was awarded a first-team recall.

A boost for the Spartans was the return of defender Zoran Levnaic, who saw out his one-match ban in the 1-0 upset to Floriana, and right-back Mark Anthony Bonnici.

Pleased by his team's organised display in the goalless draw against Valletta, Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi made no changes. The omission of Roderick Bajada from his line-up for the second match in succession will only increase speculation about a possible move for the midfielder next month.

Constructive fare was a rare commodity in the opening stages but the Spartans drew first blood after 13 minutes. They were awarded a free-kick wide on the left and Diego Armando Cucciardi's sweetly-struck centre sailed towards the six-yard box where Levnaic applied the decisive touch by flicking the ball low past the diving Henry Bonello.

At the other end, Sliema would have equalised but for the crossbar as Roderick Briffa's piledriver shook the woodwork.

You'd have expected the Wanderers to up the tempo after that miss but it was the Spartans who almost made it 2-0 only for Steve Meilak to volley wide at the far post.

As Sliema continued to struggle, the well-drilled Spartans were rarely troubled.

On the contrary, it was D'Amato's men who came closest to adding to their lead but Sultana's thunderous drive was palmed away by Bonello.

Sliema's defensive frailties were exposed again two minutes from half-time when Ryan Fenech made headway on the left before crossing towards the centre of the box where Cucciardi was pushed to the ground by Ian Azzopardi. The referee pointed to the spot and Cucciardi drove the ball low to Bonello's left to double the Spartans' lead.

Sliema tore into Ħamrun as the second half got underway but the Spartans came close to increasing their lead after nine minutes. Fenech fed Cucciardi from the right but fired over from close range.

At the other end, Ivan Casha, the Ħamrun no.1, thwarted the danger when fisting away Muscat's dipper.

Sliema now laid siege to the Spartans' defence. Chetcuti, who switched to right-back after Ciantar's withdrawal, had a grounder blocked inadvertently by Branko Nisevic. The latter reacted quickly by dashing forward before delivering a cross from the right towards Briffa whose shot ended in the side-netting.

From the possibility of reducing the deficit, Sliema found themselves 3-0 down on 62 minutes.

Meilak's quickly-taken throw-in caught the Blues at sixes and sevens as the unmarked Ryan Fenech stormed clear on the left before delivering a pass across the face of goal where Manolito Micallef poked the ball into the net.

Midway through the second half, Azzopardi effected a double substitution, Bajada and Miguel Ciantar coming on for Severino and Clifton Ciantar respectively.

The incoming Ciantar received a booking as he was adjudged to have dived in the area when Casha came out to close the angle.

Twelve minutes from time, Casha denied Sliema a goal when keeping out Muscat's backheader from Briffa's corner.

Ryan Fenech tried his luck from the distance but his shot flew wide.

Sultana, an effective target for the Spartans in attack, received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the latter stages as the Spartans finished the game in attack.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-5, A. Muscat-4, I. Azzopardi-4, B. Nisevic-4, M. Bartolo-4, J. Chetcuti-5, I. Woods-5, D. Severino-4 ('68 R. Bajada-5.5), I. Ciantar-4 ('40 M. Scerri-4), R. Briffa-6, C. Ciantar-5 ('68 M. Ciantar-5).

Ħamrun Spartans
I. Casha-6.5, M.A. Bonnici-6.5, D.A. Cucciardi-7 ('87 C. Cacciatolo), Z. Levnaic-7, A. Attard-6, Rod. Fenech-6, S, Meilak-6.5 ('90 D. Bonnici), Ryan Fenech-7.5, S. Sultana-6.5 ('85 L.J. Agius), R. Mangion-6.5, M. Micallef-7.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Muscat; M. Ciantar; Chetcuti; Mangion.

BoV player of the match: Diego A. Cucciardi (Ħamrun Spartans).