Sliema Wanderers 2
Pisanu 36; Cilia 44;
Pietà Hotspurs 1
Micallef 41;
Sliema Wanderers started the year on a bright note as they fended off the challenge of Pietà Hotspurs to register their sixth victory of the season and move away from the bottom positions.
The match came to life in the last 10 minutes of the first half when all three goals were scored.
In the end, the Wanderers, inspired by the Italian playmaker Andrea Pisanu, deservedly came out on top as they showed the brighter ideas.
Sliema left the stadium with three priceless points that lifted them on the 22-point mark and now well placed to challenge for a top-four position.
Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi made two changes from the team that lost 3-1 to Valletta last month as Fabio Mangiacasale started ahead of Andrea Scozzese who was not included in the 18-man squad.
Trevor Cilia was given the nod to start at the expense of Clive Psaila who was on the bench.
Noel Coleiro, back on the Pietà bench after winning an appeal against a six-month suspension, had to make do without Brazilian duo Leonardo Fortunato and Gabriel, who were serving a one-match ban.
They were replaced by Karl Micallef and Dylon Agius.
Sliema quickly asserted their authority and early on Pietà goalkeeper David Cassar did well to push away Mangiacasale’s shot from just inside the area.
Pietà’s response arrived on 19 minutes. From a free-kick action, Claudio Frances picked Orosco Anonam at the far post but his header was pushed over by Glenn Zammit, the Sliema goalkeeper.
Scoring chances were few and far between with Sliema enjoying the best share of possession but rarely threatening the Hotspurs goal. The game was craving for a flash of genius and that was provided by Pisanu on 36 minutes.
The Wanderers were awarded a disputed free-kick when Rodrigues was adjudged to have fouled Cilia as it appeared that the Pietà player had clearly anticipated the Sliema winger.
But referee Mario Apap ordered a free-kick and Pisanu’s inswinger flew into the top corner of the net.
Sliema’s joy was shortlived though as Pietà soon drew level. The goal came from another free-kick with Frances’s delivery met by Luke Micallef who headed past Zammit.
Coleiro effected his first change when the injured Kyle Cesare was replaced by Neil Pace Cocks.
But the goals kept coming and just before half-time Guy Kassa Gnabouyou picked Aidan Friggieri who lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Cassar and in came Cilia who fired his shot into the net.
The second half started with a 15-minute delay as the ambulance had to be called to transport Cesare to hospital for further treatment.
When play resumed, Sliema almost grabbed a third. Friggieri dispossessed Karl Micallef on the edge of the area with the ball falling into the path of Mangiacasale who saw his thumping drive pushed away by Cassar.
On 68 minutes, Zammit dived full stretch to keep out Frances’s drive from a free-kick.
At the other end, Pisanu was unlucky to see his shot hitting the bar.
The Italian was again denied by the woodwork on 76 minutes when from another central free-kick his effort again smacked against the Pieta goal-frame.
The Wanderers were rarely threatened but in stoppage time they survived a huge scare as the Hotspurs lost a golden opportunity to draw level.
Christian Grech put Cain Attard clear inside the box but he fired over with only Zammit to beat.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6, L. Martinelli-5 (63 B. Muscat-6), G. Gnabouyou-5 (74 D. Bocar), J. Mintoff-6, M. Scerri-6.5, A. Pisanu-7, M. Potezica-6, T. Cilia-6.5 (86 I. Meli), A. Friggieri-6, F. Mangiacasale-6.5 S. Bian-ciardi-6.
Pietà Hotspurs
D. Cassar-6, C. Attard-5.5, C. Grech-5.5, K. Micallef-6, R. Rodrigues-6, O. Anonam-5.5, D. Agius-6 (88 A. Mizzi), K. Cesare-5 (42 N. Pace Cocks-6), L. Micallef-5, C. Frances-6.5, J. Pisani-5.5 (80 C. Stewart).
Referee: Mario Apap.
Yellow cards: Bianciardi, Attard, Zammit.
BOV Player of the match: Andrea Pisanu (Sliema).