Gatt Baldacchino's red card costs Blues

Sliema Wanderers 1
Mifsud Triganza 75
Floriana 1
Akanni-Wasiu 77

Two goals, a red card and seven yellow cards were the legacy of a tetchy clash between Sliema Wanderers and Floriana yesterday.

A hard-fought match erupted into life in the final 15 minutes as the Old Firm rivals traded goals either side of Clifford Gatt Baldacchino's red card for an act of petulance.

Desperate for a victory after their 3-0 reverse to Birkirkara on Monday, Sliema looked headed for the three points when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza put them ahead 15 minutes from time. But, their optimism was crushed when Gatt Baldacchino earned a red card after the fourth official reported him for remarks he passed at the Floriana bench during his team's goal celebrations.

The industrious Greens seized upon their numerical advantage to restore equilibrium barely two minutes after Sliema's opener. The stalemate kept Floriana two points ahead of their underperforming rivals.

Veteran midfielder Noel Turner and Malta wing-back Alex Muscat were handed a starting role as Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi made two changes from the team that went down to Birkirkara. Ian Ciantar and Lucian Dronca were dropped from the first XI.

Azzopardi opted for a 4-1-3-2 approach with Ivan Woods and Mifsud Triganza leading their attack.

Suspension deprived Floriana coach Roddy Collins of Orosco Anonam and Julian Briffa while Christian Caruana was absent through injury. Collins set his team out in a 4-4-2 formation with Sunday Akanni-Wasiu flanking Ryan Darmanin up front.

Sliema would have taken the lead after 12 minutes but for a good save by Floriana goalkeeper Bernard Paris who parried away Mifsud Triganza's shot from inside the box.

Danger again loomed for Floriana when Clayton Failla advanced to the byline and served Woods but the latter's first-time volley was high.

Sliema were the busier side in the opening 20 minutes but close to the half-hour mark, Floriana threatened to put their noses ahead. Clifton Ciantar floated an excellent cross into the box where Wasiu had slipped the attentions of the Sliema defenders but the Nigerian striker headed over.

Eleven minutes from half-time, Luke Agius released Darmanin but the lanky forward shot tamely at Agius. The Sliema goalkeeper was then punished for releasing the ball outside the box when effecting a clearance but the ensuing free-kick, taken by Darmanin, was blocked by Sliema's defensive wall.

Floriana stole forward with more verve in the final stages of the opening half. Ciantar underlined his rich vein of form with a strong run down the left but his powerful shot flashed against the side-netting.

In first-half stoppage time, Sliema fans screamed 'penalty' when Mifsud Triganza was closed down by Ciantar and Owen Bugeja but referee Marco Borg was unimpressed.

At the start of the second period, Sliema's reserve goalkeeper Miguel Gustavo Siscuotto Lima replaced Agius.

The second half was six minutes old when Floriana survived an almighty scare. Failla touched the ball to Fenech from a right-wing corner and the Sliema midfielder arrowed a cross-shot that Paris managed to tip onto a post. The ball sailed back into the goalmouth, resulting in a scramble but Muscat's final attempt was wide.

At the other end, Azzopardi produced a vital tackle to push the ball away from the steaming Wasiu.

It was end-to-end stuff now, Paris thwarting Mifsud Triganza after Turner had profited from a short clearance.

When Said was caught in possession by Mifsud Triganza outside the box, Floriana feared the worst as the latter charged clear but Bugeja spared his captain's blushes as he dispossessed the Sliema striker. Bugeja then had to make way for Clyde Borg after injuring himself when tackling Mifsud Triganza.

With 15 minutes remaining, Sliema broke the deadlock. Latching onto Woods' assist, Mifsud Triganza got behind the Floriana defence and drove home.

Sliema's joy at edging ahead was tempered by the red card meted out to Gatt Baldacchino whose behaviour had incurred the wrath of Collins.

Floriana immediately made their numerical superiority count as Akanni-Wasiu exchanged passes with Darmanin before lifting the ball over Lima to make it 1-1.

Five minutes from time, Akanni-Wasiu should have sealed it for Floriana but hit wide with the goal at his mercy.

Sliema Wanderers
S. Agius-6 ('46 M.G. Siscuotto Lima-5), A. Muscat-5, I. Azzopardi-6, J. Mifsud-7, R. Fenech-6, N. Turner-6 ('69 H. Isaac-5), M. Scerri-5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7 ('84 I. Ciantar), C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Woods-5.5, C. Failla-6.5.

Floriana
B. Paris-7, D. Pisani-6, C. Ciantar-7.5, O. Bugeja-6.5 ('71 C. Borg), B. Said-6, P. Doffo-5, S. Akanni-Wasiu-7, M. Briffa-5, R. Darmanin-5 ('80 M. Spiteri), L. Agius-6, J. Borg-5 ('46 R. Brincat-6.5).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Borg; Briffa; Fenech; Bugeja; Doffo; Muscat; Pisani.

Red card: Gatt Baldacchino (S) 76.

BOV player of the match: Sunday Akanni-Wasiu (Floriana).