Sliema defender Andrea Scozzese shields the ball from Shola Haruna. Photo: Matthew MirabelliSliema Wanderers 1
Cilia 88;
Birkirkara 1
Ledesma 19;
Birkirkara were pegged back at the death for a second successive week as Trevor Cilia fired home a last-gasp equaliser to earn Sliema Wanderers a point.
The Stripes, who last week suffered an injury-time equaliser against Hibernians, have only themselves to blame for dropping two points yesterday as they created the better chances but were twice denied by the woodwork, only to gift the late equaliser.
Earlier Paul Zammit’s team had appeared to be in complete control of the game when Rafael Ledesma confirmed his excellent form by scoring his 11th goal of the season.
But Cilia levelled against his former club to ensure that Stephen Azzopardi avoided a third defeat in four matches.
Apart from the disappointment of dropping points, Birkirkara are also sweating on the condition of Eliandro and Gareth Sciberras who suffered injuries yesterday and could face a spell on the sidelines.
Birkirkara newcomer Mauricio Mazzetti Latini was thrust straight into the thick of things, the Argentine defender partnering Nikola Vukanac in the heart of the Stripes’ rearguard. Brazilian forward Eliandro was the central figure in Birkirkara’s attack in a 4-2-1-3 formation.
Deprived of skipper Mark Scerri, suspended, Azzopardi pushed Marko Potezica in midfield as he was able to bank on Italian defender Andrea Scozzese, who recovered from injury, to flank his fellow countryman Stefano Bianciardi in central defence.
The early exchanges were balanced but on 10 minutes, Birkirkara would have scored but for a great save from Glenn Zammit. The Sliema no.1 fisted away Eliandro’s point-blank drive into the path of Ledesma but his tame effort from inside the area was cleared off the line by Bianciardi.
This proved to be the prelude to Birkirkara’s opener which came on 19 minutes. Eliandro advanced down the right before pulling the ball back for the unmarked Sciberras whose looping cross was headed home by Ledesma.
The Birkirkara keeper then stop-ped a close-range effort from Djumo Bocar, a roaming forward alongside Fabio Talato in Azzopardi’s adventurous 4-2-4 formation which had Potezica and Joseph Borg anchoring the midfield and two fast wing-backs – John Mintoff and Cilia.
Past the half hour mark, Ryan Scicluna almost surprised Zammit with an angled shot but the ball flashed against the side-netting.
After a lull in entertaining football, Birkirkara mustered a good move when substitute Edmond Agius, positioned behind the striker in place of Scicluna, rattled the bar with a rising shot.
Fifteen minutes from time, Eliandro had to abandon the field after picking up a hamstring injury, Kurt Zammit came on to replace him.
Ten minutes from time, Ledesma released Agius who raced past Bianciardi but his angled shot hit the woodwork for a second time.
On 86 minutes, Zammit was forced into another substitution when Sciberras was stretchered off with a knee injury and Matheus Bissi took his place.
Despite these setbacks, Birkir-kara were seemingly on course for victory but it was Sliema who had the last laugh as they equalised on the stroke of time.
A defensive blunder by Edward Herrera enabled Bocar to filter through as he passed the ball to Cilia.
The former Birkirkara midfielder stormed in to arch the ball over the onrushing Haber to the delight of the Sliema clan.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-5.5, A. Muscat-5, A. Scozzese-6, J. Borg-6, J. Mintoff-5 (61 P. Xuereb-5), F. Talato-4.5 (68 A. Pisanu-5), M. Potezica-6, T. Cilia-6.5, D. Bocar-6.5, B. Muscat-5 (78 A. Xuereb), S. Bianciardi-6.5.
Birkirkara
J. Haber-5, N. Vukanac-6, M. Mazzetti-6.5, S. S. Haruna-6.5, R. Ledesma-7, P. Fenech-6, E. Herrera-4.5, R. Camenzuli-6, R. Scicluna-6.5 (65 E. Agius-6), G. Sciberras-6.5 (86 M. Bissi), Eliandro-6.5 (75 K. Zammit).
Referee: L. Kopriwa (Luxembourg).
Yellow cards: Vukanac, Cilia, Scicluna, Borg, Haber, Bocar, Herrera, Fenech.
BOV player of the match: Rafael Ledesma (Birkirkara).