Sliema Wanderers 3
Pedrinho 5; Scerri 33; Cilia 70;
Tarxien Rainbows 2
Vallecillo 7; Aboulezz 68;
Sliema Wanderers are breathing more easily after their win.
Thrust into an encounter with Tarxien, who started the day four points behind their opponents, Sliema summoned a resilient display to emerge unscathed from this encounter after the never-say-die Rainbows had twice hauled themselves back on level terms.
Although Sliema started the third round in a mid-table position, the proximity of the teams in the bottom half of the standings means that, below the top five sides, the others are still mired in relegation trouble.
It is in this context that Sliema and Tarxien took to their match yesterday and both were clearly hellbent on securing a three-point half.
The end-product of their combined efforts was an absorbing encounter in which Tarxien, seizing the initiative in the second half, gave as much only to be undone on the counter as Sliema, driven on by the dynamic Mark Scerri and the elusive Pedrinho, took only two minutes to get back in the driving seat after the revitalised Firas Aboulezz had made it 2-2 midway into the second half.
Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi, who received a memento from club president Keith Perry on the occasion of his 300th Premier League match, plumped for 4-1-4-1 with Pedrinho roaming behind Djumo Bocar in attack and Italian midfielder Andrea Pisanu sitting in front of defence.
Tarxien set out in a 4-1-3-2 formation with Soly Mouhamed and Darlington Obinna forging a two-pronged attack with Edu Vallecillo starting on the right.
Sliema were off to a flying start as Triston Caruana’s clearance glanced off the encroaching Pedrinho who sent the ball soaring past Debono.
Tarxien responded through stand-in captain Carlos Hevia who wriggled his way into the box but his effort was off target.
This turned out to be the prelude to Tarxien's equaliser.
Carlinos, as Menendez is more commonly known, played a leading role as his perfect assist from the right was turned in by fellow Spaniard Vallecillo.
Energised by Vallecillo’s leveller, Tarxien pressed forward with verve. Soly Mouhamed outmuscled Beppe Muscat as he raced forward down the right but his cross was intercepted by Glenn Zammit.
Around the 20th minute mark, Pedrinho’s corner was met by Marko Potezica but the Serbian’s near-post header was blocked.
Sliema put their noses in front three minutes past the half-hour.
Pedrinho’s cross from the right drifted into the six-yard box where the unmarked Scerri headed goalwards. Debono, the Tarxien keeper, saved his initial attempt but Scerri nodded home from the rebound.
Trevor Cilia had a gilt-edged chance to extend Sliema’s lead as Mintoff picked out the winger but his shot was an anti-climax.
Tarxien’s efforts to summon a reaction were easily subdued by Sliema. Late in the first half, Pisanu teed up Pedrinho who hit wide.
Tarxien coach Clive Mizzi brought on Spanish winger Jorge Yepes for Obinna on the restart.
Alex Muscat had an inviting opportunity to put Sliema 3-1 up but his weak header from Pedrinho’s corner was stopped by Debono.
A goal down, Tarxien upped the ante with Firas Aboulezz thriving in an advanced position on the left.
Aboulezz picked out Triston Caruana but his drive was diverted away for a corner by Scerri.
Twenty minutes into the second half, the woodwork came to Sliema's rescue as Carlinos' diving header smacked against the crossbar. The danger refused to go away for Sliema as the ball squirmed into the path of Yepes whose low effort was parried away by Zammit.
Tarxien’s revival paid off midway into the second half as Aboulezz dallied past Mintoff and prodded past Zammit.
It was end-to-end stuff. Sliema needed only two minutes to restore their lead as, in a counter-attack, Bocar held off Grech before flicking the ball to the sprinting Cilia who rammed past Debono.
Tarxien might have equalised but Mouhamed’s effort skimmed the upright after taking a deflection.
Michael Mifsud, out since December with a shin injury, made his return as he came on for the hobbling Cilia 15 minutes from time.
Bocar ought to have sealed it for Sliema but his scrambled effort was diverted away for a corner.
Mifsud then caught the eye when embarking on a trademark run that took him past three players but he drifted too wide and Debono rushed out to defuse the danger.
Tarxien thought they had scored as Vallecillo’s drive arced towards goal but goalkeeper Zammit saved the day for Sliema.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-7, A. Muscat-5.5 (81 A. Friggieri), A. Scozzese-7, J. Mintoff-6, M. Scerri-8, A. Pisanu-6.5, M. Potezica-6.5, T. Cilia-6.5 (75 MN. Mifsud), Pedrinho-7.5 (85 C. Gatt Baldacchino), D. Bocar-5, B. Muscat-5.
Tarxien Rainbows
J. Debono-5.5, O. Bugeja-6 (65 K. Farrugia-5), T. Caruana-6, F. Aboulezz-7.5, E. Vallecillo-6.5, R. Sammut-5, C. Hevia Menendez-7, I. Grech-5, S. Mouhamed-6, D. Obinna-5 (47 J. Yepes-7), M. Acevedo-6.
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Grech; Scerri; B. Muscat; Bugeja.
BOV player of the match: Mark Scerri (Sliema Wanderers).
Attendance: 570.