Sliema upset City to revive title bid
Sliema 2, Valletta 1
Sliema Wanderers are back in the title hunt after beating championship favourites Valletta 2-1 in a thrilling match at the National Stadium.
Thanks to this victory, Sliema joined Qormi on the 21-point mark, eight points behind sole leaders Birkirkara and five adrift of the Citizens who played the final 26 minutes of today’s match with 10 men after defender Kenneth Scicluna was expelled for two yellow cards.
Scoring chances proved hard to come by in the early stages but Sliema forged ahead on 26 minuret. Pedrinho’s corner from the left caused havoc in the Valletta box as Ian Azzopardi headed goalward as Valletta defender Luke Dimech’s last-gasp intervention to clear proved futile.
Valletta besieged the Sliema defence in the dying moments of the first half but efforts from Terrence Scerri, Kevin Sammut and Jordi Cruyff were warded off by the plucky blue-shirted defenders. Valletta’s hopes suffered a blow when, four minutes past the hour, defender Kenneth Scicluna was sent off for a second caution.
The Citizens equalised 17 minutes from time, captain Gilbert Agius rifling past Simon Agius after receiving from Terrence Scerri but Sliema regained their lead eight minutes from the end when substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza shot past Andrew Hogg after being put through by Failla.
Sliema had the opportunity to apply the killer blow in the dying moments when they were awarded a penalty after Hogg downed Mifsud Triganza in the box.
Woods’s penalty drive was saved by Hogg. Sliema’s Alex Muscat was voted BOV player of the match.
23 Comments
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Anthony Pace Gouder
Mar 14th 2010, 15:10
@mario dalli
REGARDING "' do not need saints or game officials to help.." ..... certainly this is not the case and hardly ever applies with SLIEMA WANDERERS. Considering the FIRST MATCH of the Championship Pool against BIRKIRKARA , SLIEMA were robbed of THREE PRECIOUS LEGITIMATE POINTS !
Reasons :-
1) B'kara"s First Goal . Ivan WOODS was fouled ,TRIPPED -PUSHED in his attempt to clear the ball and block CONVALIUS from ever shooting at goal . B'KARA ONE UP .
2) DRONCA"s overhead shot was undoubtedly a Valid goal . Thanks to the Ref.Assistant goal annulled on an Offside (?) when this action resulted from a Corner Action .
Therfore RESULT SHOULD HAVE READ SLIEMA 2 , BIRKIRKARA 1 .
With this result Valletta and Birkirkara would TO-DAY be jointly on 26 points ! .... and SLIEMA W. closer than ever on 24 points ! BIRKIRKARA have been unfairly favoured at Sliema's expense !
E Vella
Mar 14th 2010, 14:24
with the players you have, you should beat any team very easily. m'hemmx skuzi. do the talking on the pitch Mr Schriha!!! :)
P.S. to all Valletta supporters... chill :) toqodux titbaqbqu ta :)
Charles Borg
Mar 14th 2010, 13:54
Il-QALB NOFS IS-SAHHA. KEEP IT UP STRIPES !
J.Camilleri
Mar 14th 2010, 11:53
@ Tina S. Pale
Your comments are putting a dark shadow over Maltese football. It's sour grapes comments like these that Maltese football is in the position it is.
You will never learn to accept that a team played better than you did. Or maybe it's your team that lacked the pace and heart to win. Well prepare for another upset this year because football is played on the pitch not by spending millions into useless players. Well done Sliema!
In the meantime feel the taste of sour grapes. Sour isn't it? Hahahaha I might not stop laughing before next week :)
Anthony Pace Gouder
Mar 14th 2010, 11:48
WHAT A DISPLAY OF BRILLIANT DYNAMIC FOOTBALL FROM SLIEMA WANDERERS ! THE SLIEMA PLAYERS PERFORMED LIKE CHAMPIONS !
Many THANKS to President Stephen Abela, Committee, Coach Marlow , Technical Staff and DEFINITELY the Players .
Tina S. Pale
Mar 14th 2010, 11:04
To all :
I saw Qormi and Hibs against Bkara and would like to ask you something.
Is it my impression or were they truly a shadow of a team compared to how they played against Valletta?
I find giving a great performance against Valletta as honourable.
I find half hearted performances against Birkirkara not honourable.
If Birkirara are the best team this year then well done, but to the remaining teams not involved in winning the league just get on with it and "Honour the game". No more unjustified walks in no man's land!! No more!!
P.S.
Dear backbencher jelousy takes you nowhere.
Ivan Mizzi
Mar 14th 2010, 14:09
it's either the paranoid crap you said, or Birkirkara are just better :-)
ray sacco
Mar 14th 2010, 15:48
hibs and qormi lost to valletta too, so your argument is baseless! these are all the same excuses of last season! money cannot build a team. take real madrid. they have become a flop of international stars! i don't know who are you calling backbenchers cause valletta are considered so, since they ended up with nothing last season and so they hold no title! and what should we be jealous of...............surely not of the silverware valletta won last season!
victor borg
Mar 14th 2010, 05:18
Mr Shriha huge somes of money and prima donnas dont win matches but big heartsdo. You
are causing more problems between your players with your excessive spending and home
grown players are loosing interest.
lvzammit
Mar 13th 2010, 21:34
The excuses for defeat claimed by the Valletta president on tv were childish but still shocking
S.Vella
Mar 13th 2010, 20:08
Very very well done blues!!!
To all Valletta supporters who suggested we Sliema supporters go into hiding this week: Do not count your chickens.........
Pompous press conferences and loads of money do not necessarily make a winning team!
raphael stafrace
Mar 13th 2010, 20:06
mr vella.we wil be back on top of the league in no time.with or without micheal we are a strong side. little big mich is just the cherry on the cake.
mike pace ta ajkla
Mar 13th 2010, 19:58
Looks like everyone ride off the blues of the title race but beware from the boys from the xatt they can created any surpises- Forza Blues tal- passat u tal futur
J Fenech
Mar 13th 2010, 19:41
money alone doesn't buy you success
mario dalli
Mar 13th 2010, 19:37
@e vella
We do not need any saints or game officials to help us, we can do it by ourselves.
Come on WHITES, we can do it. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
ray sacco
Mar 14th 2010, 15:31
yeah, that's what you use to say all through the last season!
P Muscat
Mar 13th 2010, 19:25
Miskin Sciriha - what a waste!!
ray pace
Mar 13th 2010, 19:22
Well done boys in BLUE.
Joseph M Muscat
Mar 13th 2010, 19:19
Prosit Sliema Wanderers FC, just arrived from the Stadium; what a collective effort was put in by all the team, they showed discipline, played for each other, showed one and all how one touch football should be played and i am honoured to be a supporter of such a wonderful team! Thank you too for the Sliema Ultras for their never ending " Briju" they gave to the team and what loyal well-behaved supporters Sliema my birthday home town always in the forefront with honours in Maltese Sports. Thank You Blues you made thousands of people happy today best wishes for the rest of the season Good luck Bless You all!!!!! Joe il-king
kevin curmi
Mar 13th 2010, 19:12
e.vella by now suppose you uderstand that not all valletta supporters except that micheal ends with us myself is one of them but now he is a valletta player and i don't know why all this guns against him, think that you are one of those that you wanted micheal with the team you support but sorry he except our offer and the only club that have money for him is us. big teams with big names had a moment that they lose but don't worry my friend the league is coming at the valletta streets at may and you're welcome to come and celebrate with us
C E Taliana
Mar 13th 2010, 18:40
Hope Sliema show the same resilience against everyone
E Vella
Mar 13th 2010, 18:16
Saint Michael Mifsud, please save them :)
sandra dimech
Mar 13th 2010, 19:36
very good SLIEMA keep it up.