Ten-man Wanderers shock Stripes with late Ani winner

Sliema Wanderers 1
Ani 90;
Birkirkara 0

Substitute Jerry Ani scored with a flying header with virtually the last touch of the game to give the 10-man Sliema Wanderers a precious 1-0 win over Birkirkara.

The Stripes squandered a host of chances with Alan Tabone and Moises Avila Perez posing an attacking threat for the Blues.

Forced to play the entire second half with 10 men following the dismissal of Beppe Muscat, Sliema weathered long spells of Birkirkara pressure before launching a rare attack with Ani getting on the end of a glorious cross from Danail Mitev to head home.

Sliema had shown more urgency than Birkirkara in the early stages, hustling and quickly closing but created nothing of note with Roderick Bajada’s cross-cum-shot saved by Reuben Gauci inside the first three minutes.

But that was the closest Sliema came to causing an upset before Ani’s winner as Gauci, who was making his debut for the Stripes after joining them on loan from Marsaxlokk, was not required to make a single save thereafter. In a one-way traffic match, the Wanderers battled to stay in touch. After withstanding Sliema’s initial storm, Birkirkara, playing 4-3-2-1, took control thanks to their intelligent passing and movement.

Despite catching the eye with some attractive moves, Birkirkara lacked a cutting edge in the final third and were taught a harsh lesson when they were made to pay for their profligacy.

Loan signing Ryan Fenech started for Sliema but the Malta midfielder cut a subdued figure and was well shackled before being replaced nine minutes from time. Fenech’s debut provided early evidence that coach Danilo Doncic has work to do to integrate the on-loan Valletta player into his attacking system, after also including Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Cleaven Frendo and Mitev in his starting line-up.

Two minutes from half-time, Shawn Bajada stung Henry Bonello’s palms from a direct free-kick.

That was the prelude of what was to follow, however, as two minutes later, Muscat got his second booking and was sent off when he tried to tame substitute Ryan Scicluna and committed a foul in a key area. From the ensuing free-kick, Tabone, given a rare start by Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit, struck the ball into the top corner as the hapless Bonello simply stood and watched it fly past him.

However, the ‘goal’ was ruled out by referee Alan Mario Sant who spotted a push on a Sliema defender in the box, much to the dismay of the Birkirkara clan.

At the restart, Doncic withdrew Frendo and sent on Clifford Gatt Baldacchino in a bid to shore up his defence. Yet it was much the same pattern after the break as much of the action took place in the Sliema half.

It was Tabone who continued to lead the Stripes’ attacking charge. In the 50th minute, Avila Perez turned past Rumen Galabov and pulled it back for Rowen Muscat who shot just wide.

A few minutes later, Shawn Bajada supplied a teasing cross-cum-shot from the right that flew tantalisingly across the face of goal but found no takers. This came after a four-man move that involved Tabone, Muscat and Avila Perez who pushed their way up from the halfway line via a series of short passes.

Changes were needed for Sliema and Doncic brought on Ani for the subdued Mifsud Triganza. The introduction of the Nigerian proved to be an inspired substitution as the Wanderers struck in their first meaningful attack with virtually the last touch of the match.

Mitev supplied a low cross to the near post and Ani sneaked ahead of his marker to head in from two metres out.

The Sliema players and fans celebrated at the final whistle as their second consecutive win lifted them three points clear of Qormi and Birkirkara in fourth place.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, J. Mifsud-6.5, M. Scerri-6.5, J. Mifsud Triganza-5 (56 J. Ani-7), D. Mitev-6.5, S. Bezzina-6.5, R. Fenech-4.5 (81 R. Grech), R. Galabov-6.5, R. Bajada-6, C. Frendo-5 (46 C. Gatt Baldacchino-6), B. Muscat.

Birkirkara
R. Gauci-6, A. Buhagiar-5.5, T. Vella-6 (62 L. Grech-5), J. Zerafa (26 R. Scicluna-6.5), S. Bajada-7.5, P. Fenech-7, G. Sciberras-7, A. Tabone-8 (86 T. Cilia), R. Muscat-7, R. Pereira-5, M. Avila Perez-5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Zerafa; Muscat; Sciberras; Tabone; R. Bajada.

Red card: Muscat (S) 45.

BOV player of the match: Alan Tabone (Birkirkara).

Attendance: 926.

Standings