Floriana, Sliema share honours in tense derby

Sliema Wanderers - 1, Floriana - 1

Old Firm rivals Floriana and Sliema Wanderers had to settle for a point each after their first league clash this season ended one-all.

The Blues thought they had snatched victory when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza fired them in front 15 minutes from time but their hopes suffered a setback when defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino was shown a straight red card for provoking the Floriana bench during his team’s goal celebrations The Greens took immediate advantage as Sunday Akanni-Wasiu levelled the score just over a minute after Sliema’s opener.

Sliema constructed the better opportunities early on. Mifsud Triganza was foiled by Bernard Paris, the Floriana goalkeeper, while Ivan Woods blasted high after connecting with a cross from Clayton Failla.

Floriana came more into the picture as the first half progressed. On 29 minutes, Clifton Ciantar swung over a fine cross towards Sunday Akanni-Wasiu who headed over the bar.

Ryan Darmanin, who partnered Akanni-Wasiu in Floriana’s two-way attack, then shot tamely at Simon Agius, the Sliema goalkeeper.

Four minutes from the end of the opening half, Ciantar sped forward on the left but his diagonal shot fizzed past the near post.

The Blues threatened to go ahead six minutes into the second half when Ryan Fenech produced a menacing cross-shot from a corner action that caused confusion in the Floriana defence as goalkeeper Paris touched the ball onto a post.

At the other end, Ian Azzopardi came to Sliema’s rescue with a sliding tackle to kick the ball away from the goalbound Wasiu.

Mifsud Triganza had another shot saved by Paris but the striker put Sliema in front 15 minutes from time, shooting low past Paris after receiving a long ball from midfield.

As the two teams prepared to restart the match, referee Marco Borg dismissed defender Gatt Baldacchino after he teased the Floriana bench during Sliema’s goal celebrations.

Floriana took only a minute to level matters. Running onto Darmanin,’s return pass Akanni-Wasiu lifting the ball past Miguel Gustavo Siscuotto Lima, who had come for Agius at half-time.

Akanni-Wasiu then squandered a great opportunity to seal his team’s comeback when hitting just wide of the far post when alone in front of goal.