Fired-up Blues rattle 10-man City

Sliema Wanderers 2
Azzopardi 26; Mifsud Triganza 81
Valletta 1
Agius 73

Sliema goalkeeper Simon Agius described this clash with Valletta as the 'ultimate challenge' and his team rose to the occasion.

Needing a win to keep their flickering title hopes alive, Sliema displayed incredible determination as they outsmarted the Citizens whose travails to contain the Blues' pacey attacks were reflected in the sending-off of Kenneth Scicluna.

With Michael Mifsud watching from the VIP zone, Valletta were keen to show their new recruit that he had made the right decision to join them but their hunger was eclipsed by that of Sliema who edged a thrilling game by the odd goal in three.

Two of three alterations in Valletta's first XI from the Hibs match were enforced on coach Ton Caanen by the one-match bans of Doding Priso and Steve Borg.

Roderick Briffa, who recovered from a thigh strain, manned the right flank while Kevin Sammut filled the void left by Priso's absence.

Captain Gilbert Agius also made a return while Dyson Falzon was preferred to Declan O'Brien.

With a full squad at his disposal, Mark Marlow, the Sliema coach, started with striker Julio Alcorse as a lone forward with Ivan Woods and Clayton Failla on the wings.

Mifsud's move to Valletta irked the Sliema fans who barracked the 28-year-old forward throughout the match yesterday.

In the early stages, Valletta's Jamie Pace charged towards the byline before arrowing a dangerous cross that was headed away for a corner by Alex Muscat.

Terrence Scerri miscued his shot but, by and large, the game was dull for most of the opening 20 minutes. Midway into the first half, Sammut hit wide from a free-kick.

At the other end, Scicluna nudged the ball away from Alcorse after Pedrinho had guided a low cross into Valletta's box. Pedrinho swerved the ball towards the goalmouth from the ensuing corner, Ian Azzopardi headed goalwards and Luke Dimech inadvertently guided the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear. One-nil to Sliema.

Eleven minutes from half-time, Josef Mifsud was relieved to see the ball flash wide of the near post after the Sliema defender had slid in to deflect Scerri's pass.

The Citizens came close to an equaliser four minutes before half-time. Briffa's looping cross from the right arched towards Falzon who teed up Scerri whose effort was deflected away for a corner.

On the cusp of half-time, Falzon curled the ball just wide of the far post after receiving from Pace and Sammut's central grounder was stopped by Simon Agius.

Valletta kept their collective foot on the gas pedal. Their hopes of an equaliser grew when a rushed clearance by the Sliema defence fell to Jordi Cruyff who chipped the ball towards goal but Muscat dashed backward and managed to clear with an overhead kick.

In the early stages of the second half, Sliema shouted 'penalty' when Pedrinho, yesterday deployed in an advanced midfield role, went down in the box but referee Pisani waved play on.

Danger beckoned Valletta when Fenech's run caught the City defence off balance but Scicluna threw his body in the way of the Sliema midfielder. The Valletta defender was booked for his offence.

With Valletta going all-out in search of an equaliser, Sliema sought to exploit the gaps in their opponents' half with quick forward thrusts. Marlow brought on Mifsud Triganza for Alcorse to boost his team's chances of catching the Whites on the counter.

On the hour, it was Valletta who mounted a swift breakaway after they had cleared away a Sliema corner. Scerri switched play with Falzon who ran into the box but his drive was blocked by Agius. Valletta claimed that Muscat had shackled Falzon as the latter entered the box but Pisani was unmoved.

Caanen's troops were finding it hard to cope with Sliema's incursions. Their afternoon took a turn for the worse when Scicluna was red-carded after a late challenge on Mifsud Triganza earned him a second booking.

Caanen reshaped his team as Cruyff was switched to central defence and Valletta managed to snatch an equaliser 17 minutes from time.

Capitalising on a mistake by the Sliema defence, O'Brien quickly served Scerri inside the box and the Valletta striker nodded towards Agius who volleyed home.

Cruyff headed just wide from Steve Bezzina's free-kick. The Valletta left-back then almost surprised Agius with a dipping cross-shot from the distance but the ball flew wide.

It was end-to-end stuff now as Woods's effort was saved by Hogg. But, eight minutes from the end, Sliema went ahead.

Fastening on to a pass from Failla, Mifsud Triganza held off Dimech before drilling a low shot past Hogg.

Four minutes from the end, Sliema might have added to their tally when Failla lofted the ball into the path of Mifsud Triganza but the latter was thwarted by Hogg.

At the other end, Scerri's header from O'Brien's corner was touched away by Agius. Sliema cleared the ensuing corner and Briffa's attempt to hoof the ball upfield was intercepted by Fenech who quickly set up Mifsud Triganza only for Hogg to bring the Sliema striker down.

Pisani pointed to the spot but Woods's drive was parried by Hogg.

Sliema held off Valletta's frantic efforts to force an equaliser to join Qormi on the 21-point mark, eight behind Birkirkara, now sole leaders, and five adrift of Valletta.

Sliema Wanderers: S. Agius-7.5, A. Muscat-8, I. Azzopardi-7, J. Mifsud-6.5, R. Fenech-8, M. Scerri-6, I. Woods-6, L. Dronca-6.5, J. Alcorse-5 ('56 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-8), Pedrinho-6 ('71 J. Mintoff-6), C. Failla-7 ('90 C. Gatt Baldacchino).

Valletta: A. Hogg-6, S. Bezzina-6, R. Briffa-5, L. Dimech-6, K. Scicluna, J. Pace-7, G. Agius-6, K. Sammut-5 ('79 C. Frendo), J. Cruyff-5, T. Scerri-6.5, D. Falzon-5 ('71 D. O'Brien).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Missed penalty: Woods (S) 90.

Yellow cards: M. Scerri; Dimech; Scicluna; Mifsud; Briffa; Woods; Hogg.

Red card: Scicluna (V) 64.

BoV player of the match: Alex Muscat (Sliema Wanderers).