Rabat Ajax 1
Carrillo Pendas 40;
Sliema Wanderers 2
Muchardi 70; Ohawuchi 82;
Sliema Wanderers, on a roll after winning three games in a row, had been expected to breeze past basement side Rabat Ajax but their task was anything but easy.
Having conceded against the run of play five minutes from half-time, the Blues were up against it as Rabat were compact at the back with goalkeeper Pavle Velimirovic again pulling off some fine saves to reinforce his team’s resistance.
Despite the affluence of ball players in their ranks, the likes of Stanley Ohawuchi, Admir Vladavic, Ivan Woods and Matias Muchardi, Sliema lacked the flair needed to penetrate the Magpies but their key men took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half.
Goals from Muchardi and Ohawuchi tilted the balance in Sliema’s favour as Rabat were unable to withstand their opponents’ increasing pressure.
Thanks to this hard-earned win, Sliema will start their Championship Pool campaign with 22 points, just two behind the third-placed Hibernians and six adrift of leaders Birkirkara.
Goalkeeper Glenn Zammit made a rare start for Sliema as coach Alfonso Greco rested Henry Bonello. Jacob Borg, Ivan Woods and Beppe Muscat came in for John Mintoff, Paltemio Barbetti and Mark Scerri, all suspended.
Greco opted for 4-2-3-1 with Beppe Muscat and Muchardi in the holding positions and Woods leading the line with Ohawuchi, Vladavic and Trevor Cilia behind.
Rabat’s tactical strategy was the same as Sliema’s with Diego Carrillo Pendas, Malcolm Licari and Jonathan Bajads supporting lone striker Ryan Micallef. Spanish midfielder Daniel Pelaez, Aidan Azzopardi and Adam Smeir were out, injured.
Sliema attacked from the off. On 10 minutes, Ohawuchi guided the ball to Vladavic who switched the ball on to his left foot but his drive was off target.
The woodwork came to Rabat’s rescue as Stefano Bianciardi’s header came off the crossbar after the Magpies had failed to clear Vladavic’s corner.
Despite Sliema’s clear supremacy, the early exchanges offered little in the way of creative football as the Blues toiled to translate their superior possession into clearcut openings.
Three minutes past the half-hour, Alex Muscat advanced on the right before slipping the ball to Beppe Muscat but the latter’s effort was too weak to trouble Pavle Velimirovic.
There was another opportunity for Sliema as Woods’s effort was deflected into the path of Alex Muscat who fired over.
Sliema’s failure to convert their chances came back to haunt them five minutes from half-time. A cross from the left dropped to Carrillo Pendas who sidestepped Alex Muscat before lifting his shot past Zammit.
Velimirovic kept Rabat’s lead intact when touching away Vladavic’s grounder after the Bosnian had been freed by Ohawuchi’s intelligent back-heel.
On the stroke of half-time, Sliema were unlucky not to draw level as Muchardi’s fine cross from the left squirmed into the path of Woods who turned well but his rising effort was deflected over the bar.
A goal down, Sliema piled up the pressure as the second half got underway. Muchardi was denied by Velimirovic who pushed away the Argentine’s shot.
In a rare counter-attack, Rabat threatened to increase their advantage. Ivan Carapic directed a long pass to Micallef who pulled away from Bianciardi but his grounder flashed against the base of the post.
Micallef continued to torment Sliema. A minute past the hour, he drifted past Borg on the right but his curling shot was high.
At the other end, Ohawuchi headed wide from Cilia’s cross but, with 21 minutes remaining, Sliema gained a deserved equaliser.
Woods was instrumental as his crisp pass teed up Muchardi who rammed past Velimirovic.
It was all Sliema now.
Velimirovic kept Rabat’s heads above water when producing a stunning save to beat away Woods’s angled shot.
From the resultant corner, taken by Muchardi, the ball broke to Ohawuchi who controlled well before drilling his shot into the net.
Rabat Ajax
P. Velimirovic-7, S. Gauci-6.5, D. Azzopardi-5.5, D. Falzon-6, I. Carapic-6.5, J. Caruana-6, D. Carrillo Pendas-6.5, S. Oproiescu-5.5 (87 C. Vella), R. Micallef-7 (75 P. Borg), M. Licari-5, J. Bajada-5.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-5, A. Muscat-6, J. Borg-6, S. Ohawuchi-6.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, I. Woods-7 (86 K. Farrugia), T. Cilia-5.5, M. Muchardi-6.5, B. Muscat-6 (63 A. Xuereb), S. Bianciardi-5.5, A. Vladavic-6.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards: Oproiescu; Carrillo; Carapic; Falzon; Bajada; Zammit.
BOV player of the match: Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema).