Sliema Wanderers 4
Gnabouyou 8, 55; Kaljevic 80; Pisanu 86 pen.;
Mosta 1
Mangiacasale 47;
Stephen Azzopardi’s second coming as Sliema coach started on a brilliant note yesterday.
Taking charge of his first game less than a week after being confirmed as Alfonso Greco’s successor, Azzopardi left an instant mark as the Blues delivered arguably their best performance this season, outclassing Mosta to the tune of 4-1.
It speaks volumes of Sliema’s tactical discipline and new-found resilience that they were able to achieve such a high-scoring victory despite playing the entire second half with 10 men after the dismissal of Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
With Andrea Pisanu dictating matters from his holding midfield station and Guy Kassa Gnabouyou and Fabio Mangiacasale moving briskly up front, Sliema were streets ahead of the inept Mosta.
The most damning indictment of Mosta’s woeful performance is that not only did they fail to make their numerical advantage count, they hardly tested Sliema who had two midfielders, Marko Potezica and Mark Scerri, filling in at centre-half.
Michael Mifsud and Italian midfielder Paltemio Barbetti were the most notable absentees from Sliema’s squad as Azzopardi favoured a 4-1-4-1 formation with Frenchman Gnabouyou deployed at the tip and Italians Mangiacasale and Filippo Talato on the wings.
Montenegro striker Bojan Kaljevic was duly restored to Mosta’s starting XI after suspension kept him out of the 4-0 rout to Qormi.
Enrico Piccioni switched to 4-3-3 with Kaljevic, Pedrinho and Daniel Mariano Bueno afforded freedom to interchange.
The first chance fell to Mosta.
Pedrinho’s cross from a free-kick was partially cleared by Sliema as Mark Brincat pounced on the loose ball only to lift his shot over the bar.
After Scerri’s long-range effort had been headed away by Tyrone Farrugia, Sliema drew first blood.
The Mosta defenders were slow to react as Talato’s cross from the left released Gnabouyou who prodded past Marcus Bernal.
The Blues threatened to increase their advantage when Gnabouyou’s inviting cross picked out Mangiacasale who unleashed a fierce volley but Bernal pulled off a fine save to tip the ball over the crossbar.
From the corner, taken by Trevor Cilia, the ball was deflected towards Mangiacasale who fired home but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for an infringement in the box.
Earlier, Azzopardi had been forced into his first substitution as defender Stefano Bianciardi, who was ranked doubtful before the game due to a thigh problem, was unable to continue. His place was taken by Potezica.
Talato had an excellent chance to put the Blues 2-0 up but the Italian headed wide after connecting with John Mintoff’s cross.
The Blues were the more purposeful side but their momentum looked to have been jolted when Gatt Baldacchino, who had just been cautioned for pulling Kaljevic, was dismissed for a second booking after bringing down the Mosta striker who was running on to Bueno’s headed assist.
Pedrinho’s curling free-kick landed wide of the far post.
Despite being a man down, it was Sliema who extended their lead a minute into the second half.
Potezica delivered a fine cross from the left, Gnabouyou flicked it on to Mangiacasale who rammed home at the far post.
Off-colour and devoid of inspiration in the first half, Mosta now really had to step up their game to stage a comeback. Bueno headed wide from Pedrinho’s free-kick.
Mosta’s defensive woes resurfaced on 55 minutes when Sliema moved 3-0 up. Pisanu’s pass from a free-kick freed Mangiacasale who had been left unguarded. The Italian’s effort was kept out by Bernal but, with the Mosta defenders at sea, Gnabouyou speared his shot into the net.
Sasa Jovanovic, who had just come for the ineffective Pedrinho, would have reopened the issue but for a reflex save from Glenn Zammit who had just repelled a dangerous effort from Bueno.
The Sliema goalkeeper then blocked a shot from Kaljevic, who had been sent clear by Bueno, as Mosta made a belated reaction.
Kaljevic narrowed the deficit when his long-range screamer surprised Zammit 10 minutes from the end.
Sliema did not panic. They should have restored their three-goal lead when Cilia served the steaming Mangiacasale who blasted high with only Bernal to beat.
At the other end, James Brincat, a late substitute, skewed the ball high from Mano Micallef’s cross.
With six minutes remaining, Sliema were awarded a penalty.
Pisanu freed Mintoff who cut into the box from the right but the Malta wing-back tumbled to the ground as his path was blocked by Farrugia. From the spot, Pisanu made no mistake.
In stoppage time, Axl Xuereb, who had just come on for Cilia, hit wide before Kaljevic spurned a better chance for Mosta when hitting wide from point blank.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-7, L. Martinelli-6, G.K. Gnabouyou-7 (79 B. Muscat), J. Mintoff-6.5, M. Scerri-6.5, A. Pisanu-7, F. Talato-6.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino, T. Cilia-7 (90 A. Xuereb), F. Mangiacasale-7, S. Bianciardi (20 M. Potezica-6.5).
Mosta
M. Bernal-5, M. Brincat-4 (46 D. Falzon-4 (75 J. Brincat), K. Magro-5.5, T. Farrugia-4, I. Grech-4, R. Grech-4, M. Micallef-4, N. Milovanovic-4, D. Bueno-4, Pedrinho-4 (60 S. Jovanovic-5), B. Kaljevic-5.
Referee: Mario Apap.
Yellow cards: Pisanu; Milovanovic; Gatt Baldacchino; Bueno; Farrugia.
Red card: Gatt Baldacchino (SW) 42.
BOV player of the match: Guy Kassa Gnabouyou (Sliema Wanderers).