Sliema Wanderers 5
Pedrinho 11, 64; A. Muscat 40, 76; Mateus 61;
Mosta 1
A. Borg 84;
Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways with a bang yesterday as they thrashed Mosta 5-1 at the Hamrun ground.
The technical skills and attacking prowess of Sliema’s forwards, the likes of Pedrinho, Mateus and Junior Obagbemiro, proved too much for a toothless Mosta team.
Pedrinho scored a brace, again taking centre-stage with a masterful performance.
Sliema coach Stephen Azzo-pardi had to make a few changes to the side that started last week’s 3-3 draw with Valletta, one of which was enforced due to Djumo Bocar’s suspension.
Obagbemiro, along with John Mintoff and Beppe Muscat, were all given the chance to underline their case for a starting berth as Andrea Scozzese and Aidan Friggieri had to settle for a place on the bench.
Mosta were again down to the bare bones with just 16 players on the line-up sheet as coach Peter Smith had to do without the injured Ian Zammit, Rodriguez Ekani and Haruna Babangida.
Ryan Grech, back after injury, eased Smith’s selection problems as Adrian Borg, Karl Pulo and Zak Brincat were also drafted in the starting formation.
Inside the first eight minutes Omar Borg excelled with a fine save on Pedrinho’s free-kick. However, Borg was powerless to prevent Sliema from taking the lead three minutes later.
Pedrinho let loose a delightful left-foot strike from another free-kick, Borg got a hand to the shot but could not prevent it from dropping into the net.
Mosta wasted an ideal opportunity to equalise on 20 minutes when Ryan Grech was wasteful after Dyson Falzon delivered an inviting ball inside the area, an incident that had Smith hiding his face in his hands to cover his disappointment.
The Wanderers gained a tonic on 40 minutes after Mosta’s most concerted spell of pressure.
Obagbemiro marauded down the left wing and fired in a fierce shot that Borg partially blocked, the loose ball landed at the feet of Pedrinho who looked certain to score but his grounder was repelled again by the Mosta goalkeeper.
Danger was not over though as Alex Muscat unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew into the net via the crossbar – 2-0.
Looking for a way back into the match, Smith moved Farrugia upfront as a makeshift striker but their new formation meant Mosta were now even more vulnerable to concede on the break.
Past the hour mark, Pedrinho took Glenn Zammit’s delivery inside the area before serving Mateus with an excellent pass which the Brazilian took in his stride to score.
Pedrinho was oozing confidence now and he illuminated the stadium three minutes later.
His pace and agility made him an awkward client for the Mosta defenders as he embarked on a solo run, nudged the ball past Adrian Borg before slotting his shot home.
Alex Muscat’s fifth from the spot was simply confirmation of Sliema’s superiority.
They were awarded a penalty after Pedrinho was brought down by Farrugia and the Wanderers’ skipper drove his spot-kick past Borg for his second of the game.
Six minutes from time, Mosta scored a consolation goal when substitute Aaron Sammut arrowed a measured cross towards the far post where Borg directed a glancing header past Zammit.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6, M. Scerri-5.5 (46 A. Friggieri-6), A. Muscat-7.5, J. Obagbemiro-6.5 (72 L. Martinelli), J. Mintoff-5.5, T. Cilia-6 (66 P. Xuereb-5), M. Potezica-6, Mateus-6.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5.5, Pedrinho-8, B. Muscat-5.5.
Mosta
O. Borg-5, T. Farrugia-5, M. Brincat-5, D. Falzon-5.5, O. Koli-5, K. Magro-5 (82 M. Di Vita), U. Fortune-4.5, A. Borg-5.5, R. Grech-5 (72 K. Frendo), K. Pulo-5, Z. Brincat-5 (46 A. Sammut-5.5).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow cards: A. Borg, Falzon, Farrugia, Martinelli.
BOV player of the match: Pedrinho (Sliema Wanderers).