Qormi, Sliema fail to shine in goalless draw

Sliema Wanderers 0
Qormi 0

Amid growing predictions of a tight race for Championship Pool spots, victories for Marsaxlokk and Ħamrun Spartans on Sunday ought to have exerted a modicum of pressure on fellow top-six candidates Sliema Wanderers and Qormi ahead of their direct encounter.

Victory would have strengthened either side’s position in the fledgling standings but Qormi and Sliema lacked the spark and inspiration to secure a three-point haul as a mediocre match ended goalless.

In fairness, Qormi had the better chances as Sliema again favoured a counter-attacking approach. The best chance of the game fell to Kosta Bjedov in the dying stages but Qormi’s Croatian striker sent his effort high and wide.

The draw meant that Sliema climbed into third place on eight points while Qormi joined Floriana and Birkirkara on the seven-point mark.

A scan of Qormi’s line-up showed one change from the previous match against Tarxien as Jonathan Bondin was preferred to Brazilian defender Vinicius da Silva.

Mark Marlow, the Sliema Wanderers coach, awarded a first-team recall to James Paris who replaced the suspended Beppe Muscat.

A waterlogged pitch at the National Stadium induced the MFA to switch this game to the Tedesco Stadium yesterday morning. Given that Sliema and Qormi won their matches at this venue last week, the MFA decision is like to have met with nods of approval from both sides.

Bjedov, one of five former Sliema players in Qormi’s initial XI, manoeuvred himself into a shooting position after seven minutes but his grounder was off target.

Qormi went close on 10 minutes. Bondin’s teasing cross from the right arced towards the centre of the box and in the direction of George Mallia who nodded the ball towards Bjedov but the latter’s header flew wide.

The Wanderers had been subdued in attack in the initial stages but they threatened to seize the lead in their first dangerous raid on Qormi’s rearguard. Obinna Obiefule sped into the box through the middle but his central strike was pawed away by Matthew Farrugia.

Hopes that the game would improve as a spectacle as the first half moved one proved misplaced as both sides looked devoid of flair and a cutting edge.

For a brief period late in the first half, Sliema had 10 men on the field as Mark Scerri required medical attention after taking a blow to his head. The Sliema captain tried to continue but he was in clear difficulty. Roderick Bajada replaced Scerri on the stroke of half-time.

Early in the second half, Sekou Tidiane Souare did well to throw his body in the way of Abubaker Bello-Osagie’s grounder.

Another inviting chance fell to Mallia at the far post but his effort was blocked by Szentpeteri.

Energised by their positive start, Qormi ran up a head of steam. Jason Vandelannoite rose well to meet Cleaven Frendo’s right-wing corner but his header missed the target.

The Wanderers finally showed signs of life around the hour mark. A prolonged Sliema move disconcerted Qormi but Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza badly miscued his shot after being freed by Souare and Obiefule’s acrobatic volley was off target.

Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper, blocked a low strike by Paris on 69 minutes.

Another spell of sloppy football ensued with the game only springing to life in the final five minutes. Sliema protested for a penalty when Mifsud Triganza fell under the weight of Giglio’s challenge but referee Adrian Azzopardi saw nothing wrong.

In the dying stages, Bjedov used his body strength to shake off his marker before hitting a low drive that grazed the base of the post.

The Croatian striker then missed an even better opportunity as he skied his shot over the bar after being released by Bello-Osagie.

Sliema Wanderers
V. Szentpeteri-6.5 J. Briffa-5, J. Mifsud-6, S. Souare-6.5, M. Scerri-5 (45 R. Bajada-5), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, J. Paris-5 (77 M. Ciantar), Jackson Lima-7, O. Obiefule-6, J. Mintoff-6.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-6.5, J. Vandelannoite-7, S. Giglio-6.5, R. Sammut-6.5, M. Bartolo-6 (82 K. Ho Jung), K. Bjedov-5, J. Farrugia-7, A. Bello-Osagie-6.5, G. Mallia-6 (87 J. Chetcuti), J. Bondin-5.5 (88 K. Fenech), C. Frendo-6.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Mifsud Triganza; Bartolo; Gatt Baldacchino; Lima; Briffa; Bjedov.

BOV player of the match: Abubaker Bello-Osagie (Qormi).