Mqabba 0
Sliema Wanderers 2
Jorge 13, 75;

Two goals from Jorge Santos Silva enabled the Blues to overcome a dogged Mqabba side yesterday.

The 2-0 scoreline may paint a picture of a one-way traffic encounter but, in reality, Sliema must consider themselves fortunate to win the game.

Nevertheless, the Blues scored twice and in Jorge they’ve also unearthed a new hero.

With Roderick Bajada, Danail Mitev and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza also influential against Mqabba, there is every reason to believe that the Wanderers have the nucleus of a side that is capable of firing them in the Championship Pool and beyond.

Many are backing Mqabba to fall through the Premier League trapdoor at the end of the season but this display would give those football pundits something to think about.

Coach Clive Mizzi gave newcomer Bojan Mamic his debut and the Serb striker gelled instantly with Thiago do Santos Mazitelli up front. Although these two Mqabba foreigners were playing their first match together it seems there is already an understanding.

Yet, Mizzi’s real frustration stemmed from seeing his team pinning their more-quoted opponents back for almost an hour yet leaving the National Stadium empty-handed.

Mamic was a handful for Sliema centre-backs Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Josef Mifsud and his probings up front also allowed Mazitelli and David Azzopardi space to shine too.

Mamic and Mazitelli combined to almost give Mqabba a goal after 12 minutes, the former delivering a telling pass from which Mazitelli forced keeper Henry Bonello into a fine save after the Mqabba striker had cut inside from the right-wing and unleashed an angled drive.

Mifsud Triganza could have got the Wanderers off to a flyer inside the first ten minutes, only for his first-time shot from 20 metres out dropping just wide of an open net.

But it was not long before the deadlock was broken and the former Birkirkara striker was again involved.

In fact, after 13 minutes, Mifsud Triganza sent over a fine cross from the left flank and Jorge met it 1-0 with a stunning volley that flew into the net.

On the half-hour mark, Mazitelli fended off two challenges as he raced into the Sliema box before driving in a fierce low shot that Bonello parried.

Mqabba must have felt hard done by going into the break a goal down. But, Mizzi’s team continued their pursuit of an equaliser after the interval.

They enjoyed a decent share of the possession, creating problems for Danilo Doncic’s men but Sliema were marginally more incisive now.

Mifsud Triganza remained a genuine threat to Mqabba keeper Kris Calleja who made a fine save from the striker’s shot on 56 minutes.

On 67 minutes, Calleja pulled off another timely save as he threw himself at the feet of Mitev to block the attempt.

The game appeared to be going Mqabba’s way before Sliema struck again thanks to the precocious talent of Silva.

The Brazilian, formerly of Vittoriosa, picked up the ball from Bajada from the edge of the Mqabba box before finding the net with a fine curling strike.

The goal took the sting out of the game but Jorge could have completed his hat-trick before the final whisle only for his ball control to let him down at the crucial point.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, J. Mifsud-6, C. Frendo-5 (61 R. Grech-6), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (82 J. Ani), D. Mitev-6.5, S. Bezzina-6, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6.5, Jackson Lima-5, R. Bajada-7, J. Santos Silva-8 (90 T. Thomas), B. Muscat-6.

Mqabba
K. Calleja-7, P. Grima-5, M. Potezica-6, A. Scicluna-6.5, B. Timotic-6, D. Azzopardi-6 (83 R. Sammut), Thiago Mazitelli-7, C. Calleja-6 (69 S. Magro-6), M. Bonnici-5 (75 J. Paris), C. Micallef-6, B. Mamic-7.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Potezica, Micallef, Gatt Baldacchino, Scicluna.

BOV player of the match: Jorge Santos Silva (Sliema Wanderers).

Standings