Mifsud Triganza gives 10-man City the blues

Valletta 1
Priso 67
Sliema Wanderers 3
Woods 48; Mifsud Triganza 82, 90

2010 has brought respite for Sliema Wanderers and Stephen Azzopardi, their beleaguered coach.

Pitted in a clash with title favourites Valletta, the erstwhile underperforming Sliema Wanderers came through a stuttering start to inflict a 3-1 defeat on their much-vaunted opponents and record their first victory in three league matches.

An incendiary second half produced relentless action and drama as City launched a stirring fightback after going behind and having captain Gilbert Agius sent off but the resilient Sliema had the last laugh thanks to a well-taken brace from Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

Declan O'Brien made his first league appearance for Valletta. The Irish striker partnered Terrence Scerri in attack as coach Ton Caanen switched to 4-4-2. Jordi Cruyff was only conspicuous by his absence from Valletta's squad.

Azzopardi handed a debut to former Msida playmaker Pedro Calcado, aka Pedrinho, but Argentine striker Julio Alcorse was out of the reckoning as the Blues are still waiting for his international transfer certificate.

The inclusion of Pedrinho was not the only alteration from the team that went down 2-1 to Qormi as midfielders Ryan Fenech and Mark Scerri also returned. Clayton Failla was ruled out by suspension.

Valletta were the brighter side early on. Agius's screamer from outside the box whistled past the near post after the Blues had partially cleared a Steve Bezzina cross.

Sliema almost went ahead after their first telling raid on Valletta's defence. Pedrinho burst clear on the right before producing a crossfield pass to Alex Muscat who was unmarked on the left. Muscat's centre fell to Scerri but the latter drove his shot wide.

Sliema, who also opted for a more conventional 4-4-2 with Pedrinho playing behind their front duo of Ivan Woods and Mifsud Triganza, began to ask more questions of Valletta's back four as the first half gathered momentum.

On one occasion, Woods floated a pass towards Muscat but the latter curled the ball tamely into Andrew Hogg's hands.

A generally clean game turned tetchy around the half-hour mark. Luke Dimech was booked for barging into Mifsud Triganza and, minutes later, the officials' failure to spot successive fouls on Briffa inflamed the Valletta players, particularly Steve Borg whose rash challenge on Pedrinho earned him a caution.

Ten minutes from half-time, Valletta should have seized the lead when O'Brien's cross from the right fell to Priso at the far post but the latter miscued his shot. The former Msida speedster had the chance to redeem himself but his piledriver was touched away for a corner.

The second half was less than three minutes old when Sliema stunned Valletta by taking the lead. Josef Mifsud arrowed a cross towards Muscat who slid the ball into the goalmouth where Woods appeared to have been dispossessed by Dimech. But, the loose ball rolled towards the Sliema striker who fired home.

Valletta might have gained an instant equaliser when Agius's corner was headed on by O'Brien towards Sammut who fumbled the chance.

Close to the hour mark, Agius received a straight red card for a reckless tackle on the steaming Mifsud Triganza. Pedrinho's humdinger from the free-kick rattled the crossbar.

Caanen's response to his team's numerical handicap was to switch O'Brien to midfield and encourage Priso to use his pace to offer more support to lone striker Scerri.

The move paid instant dividends as, midway through the second half, Priso drew the teams level. Latching on to a long ball, he advanced unimpeded and prodded past Agius after his first attempt had been blocked by the sliding Lucian Dronca.

The force was with Valletta now, Agius thwarting Roderick Briffa when pushing away his fierce drive.

Having discerned Mifsud's difficulties to cope with the reinvigorated Priso on the right, Azzopardi withdrew the former Valletta defender, put in John Mintoff and detailed Muscat to drop to right-back.

Dronca almost committed an own goal when trying to clear Scerri's effort. From the corner, the ball came to Priso whose cross flew across the face of goal but found no takers.

Sliema remained menacing on the counter and from a swift breakaway, Fenech released Mifsud Triganza who held off Dimech, rounded Hogg and slotted the ball home.

Three minutes later, the Citizens would have made it 2-2 but for Noel Turner's goal-line clearance from Scerri's header.

In stoppage time, Mifsud Triganza rubber-stamped Sliema's win when heading the ball home after Dimech and substitute Edmond Agius had made a mess of clearing Woods's assist from the left.

Valletta
A. Hogg-5, S. Bezzina-5.5 ('86 E. Agius), S. Borg-5.5 ('89 J. Pace), K. Scicluna-6, L. Dimech-4, K. Sammut-6, G. Agius, D. Priso-7.5, D. O'Brien-5, R. Briffa-6, T. Scerri-6.

Sliema Wanderers
S. Agius-6, A. Muscat-6, I. Azzopardi-6, J. Mifsud-5.5 ('74 J. Mintoff), R. Fenech-6.5 ('90 M. Bartolo), M. Scerri-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-8, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, I. Woods-7, L. Dronca-5.5, Pedrino-7 ('84 N. Turner).

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Dimech; Borg; Pedrinho; Mintoff.

Red card: Agius (V)59.

BOV player of the match: Doding Priso (Valletta).

Playing today

Tedesco Stadium: 7.30 p.m. Tarxien vs Floriana.