Blues live to fight another day

Floriana 0
Sliema Wanderers 1
Obiefule 90 pen;

A last-gasp penalty goal, scored by substitute Obinna Obiefule, kept Sliema Wanderers’ flickering hopes of making the Championship Pool alive yesterday after edging past Floriana in a tense Old Firm clash at Corradino.

It was a dramatic ending to a hard-fought derby which came to life after the interval with the Wanderers, charged by new coach Danilo Doncic, creating the better chances but their poor finishing in front of goal had left their hopes of victory in jeopardy.

In the end, however, their efforts were rewarded a minute from time when debut man Etienne Barbara was upended in the Greens penalty area and Obiefule made no mistake from the spot to hand his team three precious points.

The Wanderers are still eighth in the standings with 19 points but they still have an outside chance of making the top six.

First, Sliema will have to beat Hibs in their next match and hope other top-six contenders, Qormi and Ħamrun Spartans, fail to win their remaining match to achieve an ambition that looked an almost impossible task a few weeks back, so low was the team’s morale.

For Floriana, the result was a miserable ending to a turbulent week in off-field matters.

Club president Johann Said returned to the fold on Friday after threatening to leave for good but yesterday the team conceded a second defeat on the trot, dashing their hopes of making a valid push for the league title.

Doncic was forced to make do without midfielders Mark Scerri and Jackson Lima who had to serve a one-match ban.

Julian Briffa and Miguel Ciantar were handed rare starts by the new mentor as Barbara was part of a three-pronged attack along with Chakib Lachkim and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

Todor Raykov, the Floriana coach, also had two key defenders missing in Manolito Micallef and Tyrone Farrugia, both suspended.

Pablo Doffo was back in the reckoning while Sasha Borg replaced Micallef at left-back. Striker Daniel Nwoke is still sidelined with injury.

The clock had only marked five minutes when Floriana protested for a penalty. Clifford Gatt Baldacchino looked hesitant to clear the ball from his area, Ivan Woods quickly won possession but seemed to be pushed to the floor by the Sliema defender.

Referee Clayton Pisani deemed the challenge was fair.

The two teams were showing great combative spirit to try and take hold of midfield with the result that scoring chances were few and far in between with both goalkeepers rarely called into action in the opening 25 minutes.

The first attempt at goal arrived before the half-hour mark when Clayton Failla served Ciantar on the edge of the area and he unleashed a menacing shot that was tipped over by the alert Lofti Saidi.

Seven minutes later, Saidi was again instrumental in keeping a clean sheet as the Greens goalkeeper produced a daring lunge to parry away Lackhim’s header after the Tunisian was picked by Barbara’s cross.

Five minutes from the break, Floriana were forced to make their first change as striker Dragomir Draganov suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Christian Caruana.

On 52 minutes, Sasha Borg embarked on a mazy run inside the Sliema half that took him past two defenders but his shot was somehow kept out by keeper Victor Szentpeteri.

When play resumed it was the turn of Sliema to threaten, Lackhim letting loose a powerful drive that was ably blocked by Saidi.

Doncic’s tactical response arrived on the hour when he withdrew Mifsud Triganza and roped in Obiefule.

Barbara had a golden opportunity to put Sliema ahead on 64 minutes when the former Malta forward pounced on a poor back pass from Owen Bugeja but with only Saidi to beat, he shot straight into the goalkeeper.

Eigtheen minutes from time, Marcal Guerrero Fernandes re-leased Caruana who turned past Gatt Baldacchino but his shot was repelled by Szentpeteri.

On 86 minutes, Obiefule won possession inside the Floriana half and quickly laid the ball into the path of Steve Bezzina whose rasping grounder came off the upright with Saidi beaten.

When the match looked heading to a goalless draw, Sliema were awarded a penalty that brought about the match-winning goal.

Barbara was upended in the area by Brian Said who also looked to have touched the ball with his hand and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

Obiefule stepped up for the spot-kick and planted the ball into the right-hand corner of the net amid the jubilation of the Blues’ fans.

Obiefule almost struck again when he raced through but his shot was deviated by Saidi onto the upright before the Greens cleared. Lackhim also went close in those late stage but his shot was pushed away by Saidi.

Three minutes into stoppage time Floriana had a last chance to save the match when Doffo’s cross was deviated towards goal by Caruana but the ball flew just over.

Just before the final whistle Floriana were reduced to ten men when Thomas Paris was shown a straight red card for dissent.

Floriana: L. Saidi-7, B. Said-5, T. Paris, S. Borg-6.5, O. Bugeja-5, C. Borg-6.5 (88 D. Pisani), P. Doffo-6.5, J. Borg-6, I. Woods-6, K. Dzhorov-5.5 (50 M. Guerrero Fernandes-5.5), D. Draganov-4 (‘40 C. Caruana-6).

Sliema Wanderers: V. Szentpeteri-6, J. Briffa-6, S. Bezzina-6.5, J. Mifsud-6.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, C. Failla-6.5, M. Ciantar-6.5 (75 N. Turner), R. Bajada-6, E. Barbara-7, C. Lachkim-7.5 (90 J. Paris) J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (60 O. Obiefule-7).

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Doffo, Gatt Baldacchino, Ciantar, Briffa, S. Borg, Obiefule, Barbara.

Red card: T. Paris (F) 90.

BOV player of the match: Pablo Doffo (Floriana).