RABAT AJAX-1, SLIEMA WANDERERS-2
Sliema Wanderers turned defeat into victory after scoring two second-half goals to see off the challenge of bottom team Rabat Ajax.
The Blues were the better side for most of the game but Rabat defended well before stunning their opponents when Diego Carrillo Pendas gave them a 40th-minute lead.
This goal left Sliema facing an uphill struggle but their efforts were rewarded when Matias Muchardi and Stanley Ohawuchi struck in the final 20 minutes to extend the Blues' winning run to four successive matches.With this win, Sliema will start the Championship Pool with 22 points, two behind the third-placed Hibs and six down on leaders Birkirkara.
Sliema made the brisker start. After 10 minutes, Stanley Ohawuchi picked out Admir Vladavic who switched the ball on to his left foot but his drive was wide.
The woodwork then came to Rabat's rescue as Stefano Bianciardi's header cannoned off the crossbar after the Magpies had failed to clear Vladavic's corner.The game was generally dull as Sliema struggled to break down the Rabat defence.
Three minutes past the half-hour, Alex Muscat ran clear on the right before passing the ball to Beppe Muscat but the latter's central effort was blocked by Pavle Velimirovic, the Rabat goalkeeper.
There was another opportunity for Sliema as Woods's effort was deflected into the path of Alex Muscat who blasted over.
Five minutes from half-time, Rabat scored against the run of play. A cross from the left was deflected to Diego Carrillo Pendas who swept past his market before beating Glenn Zammit, the Sliema goalkeeper.Velimirovic then denied Sliema when tipping away Vladavic's grounder.On the stroke of half-time, Sliema were unlucky not to equalise as Muchardi's fine cross from the left rolled into the path of Woods whose rising effort was deflected over the bar.
Early in the second half, Velimirovic turned Muchardi's shot around the post.In a rare counter-attack, Rabat threatened to increase their advantage. Ivan Carapic guided a long pass to Micallef who left Bianciardi in his wake but his grounder flashed against the base of the post.
Micallef continued to trouble Sliema. A minute past the hour, he swept past Borg on the right but his curling shot was high.At the other end, Ohawuchi nodded wide from Cilia's cross but, with 21 minutes remaining, Sliema gained a deserved equaliser.
Woods was the provider as his pass from the left teed up Muchardi who blasted past Velimirovic.
Sliema seized the upperhand. Velimirovic was prominent as he produced a great save to push away Woods's angled shot after a good pass from Ohawuchi.From the resultant corner, taken by Cilia, the ball broke to Ohawuchi who controlled well before drilling his shot into the net.
Sliema's Ohawuchi was named BOV player of the match.