Sliema Wanderers 0
Floriana 1
Woods 5;
Sliema Wanderers’ decision to sell Ivan Woods to Old Firm rivals Floriana in summer came back to haunt them yesterday as the veteran forward scored the goal that handed the Greens a 1-0 victory.
On a high after scoring a brace in the 3-0 defeat of Lija Athletic in the FA Trophy first round, Woods was on target after just five minutes to lift Floriana’s spirits ahead of their eagerly-anticipated clash with neighbouring foes Valletta.
Floriana were certainly worth their success as they produced the better football, especially in the first half, but they almost paid the price for their failure to convert the chances into goals as Sliema came close to an equaliser late on.
Victory significantly improved Floriana’s top-six chances as they have now moved on the 13-point mark. Not so can be said of Sliema whose third straight defeat left them in the bottom part of the standings with only eight points.
Sliema coach Mark Marlow handed a rare start to Valdo Goncalves Alhinho.
The Portuguese midfielder was drafted into the first team as a replacement for the suspended Jackson Lima.
With Nigerian forward Obinnia Obiefule ruled out by injury, Marlow deployed Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza as a lone striker with James Paris taking up a wide position on the left of midfield.
Having come on as a substitute in the 4-0 defeat to Valletta, left-back Steve Bezzina was named in Sliema’s initial formation for the first time since joining the club on loan from the Citizens. Defender Josef Mifsud made way for Bezzina as Marlow elected to revert Clifford Gatt Baldacchino to his favoured position in the centre of defence.
Floriana coach Todor Raykov made two alterations from the team that eased past Lija. Clyde Borg came in for the injured Owen Bugeja and Christian Cassar received the nod ahead of Mark Gauci. Michael Mecerod and Ivailo Sokolov had to settle for a place on the subs’ bench.
The Greens needed just over a minute to create their first scoring chance as Woods freed Caruana in the box but the latter’s shot was blocked by Sekou Tidiane Souare.
Sliema’s reprieve was temporary as Floriana took the lead after five minutes. Borg’s low cross from the right took a deflection off Souare and landed in the path of the unmarked Woods who hit past Viktor Szentpeteri.
Buoyed by the early breakthrough, Floriana had Sliema on the ropes in the initial stages.
Pablo Doffo dispossessed the dithering Mark Scerri but his strike lacked the power to trouble Szentpeteri.
In their first significant foray into Floriana’s half, Sliema almost levelled matters.
Mifsud Triganza’s twisting run tormented Floriana, particularly Brian Said who floored the Sliema striker just outside the area. Alhinho wafted a powerful shot past the wall from the free-kick but Lofti Saidi fisted the ball away. John Mintoff’s follow-on shot looked to have been deflected as it sailed wide of the near post but the match officials awarded Floriana a goal-kick.
The roaming Caruana was proving a handful for Sliema. On one occasion, he breezed past Beppe Muscat but his final effort drifted wide.
The game continued to ebb and flow. Paris cut in from the left and passed to Mifsud Triganza who got himself in a shooting position but his curler was pushed away by Saidi.
Close to the half-hour mark, Woods bore down on goal through the middle but his grounder was touched away by Szentpeteri.
Floriana were the livelier side for much of the opening 30 minutes as Sliema toiled to get going.
Mintoff was Sliema’s most influential player thanks to his running down the right wing. In one instance, he sped clear before squaring to Scerri who was intercepted by Duncan Pisani just inside the box.
Sliema’s task would have become more complicated were it not for the woodwork as Ryan Darmanin’s header from Christian Cassar’s corner smacked against the crossbar. Caruana then had a volley diverted away for a corner as the Greens stayed in ascendancy.
A goal down, one expected Sliema to up the ante in the second half but Marlow’s troops were a disjointed lot.
Mecerod, who had replaced Darmanin, saw his header deflected wide after Cassar had whipped in another teasing cross from a set-piece.
With 15 minutes remaining, Mifsud Triganza interrupted the boredom as he conjured up a ferocious volley that soared above Saidi and cannoned off the underside of the crossbar.
Sliema thought the ball had gone in as it came down on the goal-line but assistant referee Ingmar Spiteri’s flag stayed down.
That was the last episode of note as Floriana strolled through the remaining minutes to secure a morale-boosting victory.
Sliema Wanderers
V. Szentpeteri-5.5, M. Scerri-5.5, J. Paris-5 (63 A. Spiteri-4), J. Mintoff-6.5, B. Muscat-4 (78 N. Turner), V. Alhinho-4, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5, S. Souare-6, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, S. Bezzina-5, R. Bajada-5 (42 M. Ciantar-5).
Floriana
L. Saidi-6, D. Pisani-6, T. Farrugia-6.5, B. Said-6, M. Micallef-6, P. Doffo-6, C. Cassar-6.5, C. Borg-5.5 (46 J. Borg-5.5), I. Woods-7, R. Darmanin-5.5 (56 M. Mecerod-6), C. Caruana-6.5 (84 M. Gauci).
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Yellow cards: Said; Caruana; Souare; Mecerod; Alhinho
BOV player of the match: Ivan Woods (Floriana).