SLIEMA WANDERERS-0, VALLETTA-3
Valletta averted talk of crisis after producing a five-star performance to inflict a first defeat on Sliema Wanderers.
Under pressure to lift their performance after their poor display in the 1-0 loss to Birkirkara, the Citizens produced an emphatic response as they dominated Sliema whose poor defending in the opening half left them with a mountain to climb.
The 3-0 scoreline spoke volumes of Valletta’s supremacy and eased the pressure on coach Mark Miller whose decision to reshuffle his pack paid the desired dividends.
Attacking from the off, Valletta took just four minutes to break the deadlockAziz Corr Nyang tormented Alex Muscat as the Gambian raced past the tame challenge of the Malta defender. His cross was intercepted but Jacob Borg, Sliema’s left-back lost his balance with the ball rolling to Ryan Fenech who rifled past Henry Bonello.
Valletta’s early breakthrough rattled Sliema. It was not before the 11th minute that Sliema created a half-chance as John Mintoff’s long-range free-kick sailed over the bar.
There was a promising opening for Sliema when Stanley Ohawuchi sped past Luke Dimech who brought down the Nigerian forward. Sliema called on Mario Apap to dismiss Dimech but the referee opted to caution the Valletta defender.
Not before long, Valletta doubled their lead. Sliema were again caught out at the back as Romulo released Abdelkarim Nafti who had escaped the attentions of the opposing defenders. The Tunisian forward confidently drove the ball past Bonello.Midway into the first half, Borg had a chance to make up for his earlier mistake as Matias Muchardi’s corner landed at the feet of the former Balzan wing-back but he miscued his effort.
Roderick Briffa then blasted over from the distance.A minute past the half-hour, Nyang took centre-stage with a great move. Picking up possession in his team’s half, Nyang jinked his way past a host of Sliema players to advance through the middle before passing to Nafti whose well-struck lob landed on top of the crossbar.
Three minutes from the break, Sliema won a free-kick after Bajada felled Ohawuchi but Mintoff’s free-kick was high and wide.Sliema started the second half on a positive note.
Muchardi, pushing forward from midfield, headed wide from Ohawuchi’s cross.In their next attack, Valletta almost made it 3-0 but Barry fired just wide from an angled position.Cini then needed two attempts to tame a low shot from Ohawuchi as Sliema rallied.A minute past the hour, Briffa’s perfect ball from a deep position released Nafti who nipped behind the Sliema defenders but the Tunisian’s lofted effort was saved by the diving Bonello.Sliema’s afternoon went from bad to worse midway into the second half when Mintoff was dismissed after collecting a second yellow card for bringing down the advancing Barry as Valletta attacked on the counter.
With 15 minutes remaining, Valletta increased their lead. Barry’s low cross from the right was cut out by Bonello but the ball dropped to Denni, who had just come on for Agius, via Nyang.
As Denni swivelled, the ball appeared to hit his left arm but Apap saw nothing wrong and the Brazilian stabbed the ball into the net.Bonello then denied Nyang as Valletta stayed on the attack.At the other end, Cini also caught the eye when tipping away an attempt by Pape Gueye, a late substitute for the disappointing Bello-Osagie.
The Senegalese was unlucky not to narrow the deficit as his first-timer from inside the area smashed against the crossbar.At the other end, Bonello pushed away Barry’s close-range header after good work by Nyang.
Ian Zammit, a late substitute, sent his shot wide after receiving from the outstanding Barry.
Nafti, Valletta’s Tunisian forward, was named BOV player of the match.