Sliema end Spartans’ perfect start

Sliema Wanderers 3
Obiefule 18; Mifsud Triganza 80, 90
Ħamrun Spartans 1
Grima 60

Sliema Wanderers ended Ħamrun Spartans’ flawless start to the Premier League season as Jean Pierre Mifsud Tirganza came off the bench to score a double and seal the Blues’ first win.

Never mind a point, Steve D’Amato’s side will have been upset not to have claimed all three but it was their desire to stamp an authority on the game that led to their downfall.

Ħamrun’s evening was going according to plan. The team looked well-drilled, unyielding and resilient with Sliema, who had gained only one point from their first two matches, forced to mount a rearguard action in the opening exchanges.

Playing with the confidence of a team that came into the match after back-to-back wins, the Spartans started the match in blistering fashion with Dene Shields shooting high from Rupert Mangion’s pass after just two minutes.

With Shields and Marcelo Pereira hugging the right and left touchlines respectively, and Mangion, Ryan Fenech and Massimo Grima bossing midfield, the Spartans were able to stretch Sliema on the counter-attack.

After eight minutes, Gaetan Spiteri skewed his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

But Sliema, marshalled superbly by Josef Mifsud and Souare Sekou Tidiane in central defence, held firm. Gradually, Mark Marlow’s side began to heap more pressure on their opponents.

Obinna Obiefule, who was playing against his former club, initially found it tough to make an impact up front but the Nigerian put away the first chance that came his way in the 18th minute. Jackson Lima’s pass fell into the path of the towering striker who ran into the box before shooting low past the stranded Ivan Casha.

The Spartans had no option but to shuffle their pack and chase the game, leaving themselves vulnerable to Sliema’s fast counter-attacks.

D’Amato’s side were having problems dealing with Sliema’s movement and passing, with Lima pulling the strings and Obiefule, John Mintoff and Mark Scerri looking lively.

However, the Nigerian striker wasted a string of chances to put the Wanderers out of sight. After 26 minutes, Obiefule saw his effort turned around by Casha and 10 minutes later, he capitalised on a poor clearance by the defence but fired wide.

Mintoff found space to slice a shot wide from the edge of the box as Ħamrun lost their early fluency and created little of note immediately before the interval.

Ħamrun stormed forward after the break and Lima was on hand to deny Ryan Fenech with a perfectly-timed sliding tackle. It was no surprise when the Reds’ pressure paid off on the hour mark. Ryan Fenech’s corner found Grima who rose highest to head home the equaliser.

Having relinquished control of the game in the first half, the Spartans were in no mood to repeat the mistake. In fact, a few moments later, Sliema’s Clifford Gatt Baldacchino made a vital interception off the line to deny Ryan Fenech.

Three minutes past the hour mark, Grima rattled the crossbar with a venomous strike from 20 metres.

The Spartans pressed for more but Sliema’s threat on the counter was not to be discarded. On 74 minutes, Obiefule darted past three defenders only to be brought down by Roderick Fenech. The Nigerian picked himself up to take the penalty but his shot crashed against the crossbar.

Ħamrun failed to heed the warning signals. Ten minutes from time, Jackson Lima and Obiefule combined impressively to set up Mifsud Triganza who rounded goalkeeper Casha before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Sliema had to withstand some incessant pressure as Ħamrun were again denied by the woodwork off Martin Hrubsa’s header from Mead Mifsud’s free-kick.

Mifsud Triganza, who had replaced Mintoff, sealed the issue with his second goal and Sliema’s third. Miguel Ciantar, who had just come on for James Paris, made an instant impact when he served Mifsud Triganza who tapped home.

Sliema Wanderers: V. Szentpeteri-6, J. Briffa-6, J. Mifsud-6.5, S. Tidiane-7, M. Scerri-6, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6.5, J. Paris-5 (84 M. Ciantar), J. Lima-7, O. Obiefule-7(91 Valdo Goncalves), J. Mintoff-6 (60 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6), B. Muscat-6.

Ħamrun Spartans: I. Casha-5, M. Grima-6, R. Mangion-5, Roderick Fenech-4.5, D. Shields-6, Ryan Fenech-7.5, M. Pereira-5, G. Spiteri-6(78 M. Mifsud), J. Vukanic-5, M. Hrubsa-5, D. Camilleri-5 (63 C Camoin-5).

Referee Esther Azzopardi.

Missed penalty Obiefule (S) 74.

Yellow cards Ryan Fenech; Obiefule; J. Lima; Grima; Mangion.

BOV player of the match Ryan Fenech (Ħamrun Spartans).

Attendance 1,965.