Sliema Wanderers 2
Mitev 54; Bajada 74;
Marsaxlokk 2
Deanov 16; Obiefule 78;

Former Sliema striker Obinna Obiefule punished his former club as he helped Marsaxlokk earn a battling 2-2 draw against the Wanderers yesterday.

Marsaxlokk had started the match in stunning fashion with Martin Deanov netting after 16 minutes but Sliema turned the game around and looked on course to claim their third consecutive win thanks to goals from Danail Mitev and Roderick Bajada.

However, Danilo Doncic’s men could not find the third goal to wrap up the points and Obiefule made them pay when scoring Marsaxlokk’s equaliser 12 minutes from time.

Striker Dylan Kokavessis and midfielder Sacha Borg were handed starting roles as Marsaxlokk coach Winston Muscat made two changes from the team that went down to Mqabba last Monday, Sunday Eboh and Jonathan Xerri paying the price for their team’s poor showing in the 2-0 loss.

The southseasiders retained their 4-4-2 module with Florent Raimy detailed to offer extra cover to the defence, concentrating on man-marking the dangerous Jackson Lima who found it difficult to make his usual impact.

Sliema coach Doncic opted for a 4-3-2-1 formation with Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza leading the line, Mitev and Jackson Lima deployed on the wings and Bajada, Jorge and Mark Scerri pulling the strings in midfield.

Suspension deprived Doncic of Ryan Grech but Sliema’s midfield was strengthened by the return of Scerri who played a crucial role in protecting his defence in a scrappy opening.

Bajada set the tone early on with a clumsy challenge that floored Carlos Campagnoli and Mitev was then guilty of a reckless lunge on Emiliano Lattes.

Scoring chances were at a premium for much of the opening 15 minutes with Marsaxlokk clearly toiling to find their rhythm in the face of Sliema’s tight pressing.

Kokavessis had been a peripheral presence but made a crucial contribution as Marsaxlokk took the lead after 16 minutes.

The nippy striker had the better of Alex Muscat who floored him. From the ensuing free-kick, Deanov crashed his shot home from 35 metres after Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello had allowed the shot to squeeze under his body.

The goal at least impressed on Sliema the urgency of attempting to trouble the Marsaxlokk goal and Mifsud Triganza scuffed a good opportunity when hitting wide on 19 minutes after Mitev drove into the penalty area.

On the half-hour mark, Jorge demonstrated the verve that made him such a coveted player this summer with a surging run, forcing a fine stop from Marsaxlokk keeper Reuben Gauci with a low drive.

Just before half-time, Jorge embarked on another fine move but his rising effort was deflected over the bar by Patrick Borg.

The Sliema team that came out of the dressing room after the interval was more aggressive than the version seen in the first half. Scerri flashed a shot over the bar in the opening stages.

When Sliema levelled nine minutes into the second half, it came in bizarre fashion for Marsaxlokk as defender Patrick Borg incredibly miskicked a long ball which looped behind him, leaving Mitev with the easy task of tapping home.

Energy visibly drained out of Marsaxlokk as Sliema continued to be the better side.

After 69 minutes, Mitev went close with a curling free-kick that ended narrowly wide.

That turned out to be the preamble to Sliema’s second six minutes later. Borg floored Mifsud Triganza to halt another Sliema venture towards the southerners’ penalty area. Bajada exacted clinical retribution with a delightful left-foot strike that bent away from Gauci’s despairing dive.

The celebrations were short-lived as Marsaxlokk were swiftly back on level terms when Lattes found space on the left of Sliema’s box before setting up Obiefule to score.

Sliema were again on the back foot after 85 minutes as Marsaxlokk stepped up the pressure with Bonello saving acrobatically from Deanov.

At the other end, Jackson Lima again demonstrated Sliema’s threat from set-pieces when forcing Gauci to punch away another free-kick.

From the corner, Mifsud Triganza gave the illusion of a goal as his flying drive flashed across the side-netting.

Sliema ended the game on a negative note as Bulgarian winger Mitev was sent off in the final minutes for a second booking. It was the second successive match that the Blues had a player dismissed after Grech saw red in the 1-0 win over Floriana.

Mitev’s red card had no impact on the result, however, as the game finished two-all.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-5.5 (59 C. Gatt Baldacchino-4), J. Mifsud-6, M. Scerri-6, J. Mifsud Triganza-6, D. Mitev, S. Bezzina-5, Jackson Lima-5, R. Galabov-6.5, R. Bajada-8, Jorge-7 (J. Ani 90).

Marsaxlokk
R. Gauci-6, M. Licari-6, C. Mamo-5, P. Borg-5.5, C. Campagnoli-6.5, M. Deanov-7, S. Borg-6.5 (74 S. Eboh), O. Obiefule-6.5, E. Lattes-5, F. Raimy-7.5, D. Kokavessis-5 .

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Bajada; Mitev; Mifsud; Licari; S. Borg; Raimy; Obiefule, P. Borg; Kokavessis.

Red card: Mitev (SW) 90.

BOV player of the match: Roderick Bajada (Sliema).

Attendance: 689.

Standings


P W D L F A Pts
Hibernians 4 3 1 0 11 5 10
Valletta 3 3 0 0 9 3 9
Floriana 4 3 0 1 5 2 9
Sliema 4 2 2 0 8 5 8
Birkirkara 4 2 1 1 7 6 7
Marsaxlokk 4 1 1 2 8 8 4
Mqabba 4 1 1 2 4 6 4
Balzan Youths 4 1 1 2 4 7 4
Qormi 3 1 0 2 4 5 3
Tarxien 3 0 1 2 4 7 1
Mosta 3 0 1 2 4 9 1
Hamrun 4 0 1 3 1 6 1

Note: Balzan win protest against Ħamrun Spartans, awarded 2-0 win.

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