Sliema Wanderers 2
Obiefule 76; Mifsud Triganza 86;
Vittoriosa Stars 0
Sliema completed their 2010-11 Premier League commitments on a winning note after beating Vittoriosa 2-0 at Corradino, yesterday.
With destiny of both teams already sealed, the match had little significance bar the platonic incentive of ending the campaign on a high. That objective was deservedly fulfilled by the Blues who produced another commanding display even though they had to contend with a battling Stars team.
For Vittoriosa, whose demotion to Division One was sealed last week, it was a disappointing end to their short stay in the top flight.
The Stars had hoped to, at least, bow out with a positive result but in the end Sliema’s superior qualities were too much for the Cottonera outfit.
Victor Szentpeteri started in Sliema’s goal in place of the injured Henry Bonello while Mark Scerri was back in midfield after shaking off a foot injury.
Vittoriosa coach Winston Muscat opted to field some of his fringe players as Larry Lagana and Mauro Brincat were handed rare starts. Brazilian Murilo Maccari was serving a one-match suspension while Leighton Grech and Steve Wellman started on the bench. Pierre Aquilina was omitted from the squad altogether.
The early exchanges produced little opportunities with the Wanderers, as expected, seeing more of the ball and their best chance coming from a Scerri shot from the distance that flew over.
On 15 minutes Sliema’s Obinna Obiefule had the ball inside the Vittoriosa net but the ‘goal’ was ruled out for offside following some moments of hesitation from the match officials and much to the disappointment of the Wanderers.
Two minutes later, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza picked Lima just outside the area and the Brazilian saw his drive parried away by keeper Jean Vella.
Vittoriosa’s first real foray inside Sliema’s half arrived on 25 minutes when Jorge broke free on the left before sending a dangerous cross-shot which, however, found no takers inside the box.
Sliema remained on top and on 32 minutes goalkeeper Vella lunged to his right to tip away Mifsud Triganza’s shot that looked destined to hit the net.
Just before the break, however, Vittoriosa should have taken the lead. Edison nodded the ball into the path of Anthony Ewurum who fired over with only Szentpeteri to beat.
The second half retained the same pattern with Sliema holding much of the initiative and the Reds operating on quick breaks launched by Brazilian duo Edison and Jorge.
Obiefule slid the ball into the path of Lima who fired over from an inviting position but as the minutes ticked away, the intensity of the match started to wane and, inevitably, scoring chances came at a premium.
Vella showed fine reflexes to keep out a shot from Lima before the stalemate was finally broken on 76 minutes.
It was the hard-working Lima who released Obiefule and the Nigerian unleashed an unstoppable drive that gave Vella no chance.
Edison almost grabbed an equaliser at the other end when he sped past two Sliema defenders before seeing his scorcher palmed away by Szentpeteri.
But, four minutes from time, Sliema made sure of the points when Mifsud Triganza capitalised on some hesistant defending by Vittoriosa before planting the ball inside an empty net.
Sliema Wanderers
V. Szentpeteri-6, M. Scerri-6 (61 A. Spiteri-5.5), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7, S. Bezzina-6, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, J. Lima-7.5, O. Obiefule-7 (79 J. Briffa), R. Bajada-6, J. Mintoff-6.5 (75 J. Paris), B. Muscat-6, C. Failla-6.5.
Vittoriosa Stars
J. Vella-6.5, C. Micallef-6, K. Sammut-6 (81 J. Chetcuti), R. Grech-6, M. Brincat-6 (58 A. Tabone-5.5), Edison-6.5, L. Lagana-5.5 (64 L. Grech-6), Jorge-6.5, A. Ewurum-5.5, J. Xerri-6, C. Campagnoli-6.5.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Lagana, Tabone, Gatt Baldacchino.
BOV Player of the match: Jackson Lima (Sliema Wanderers).