Sliema eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Hibernians.Hibernians 0
Sliema Wanderers 3
Mifsud 29, Ohawuchi 48, 58;
Sliema Wanderers launched their pre-season preparations on a high note after gaining a deserved 3-0 victory over Hibs in the Euro Cup.
The Paolites played the last 10 minutes with a player less as Jackson Lima limped out injured after Branko Nisevic had already used all his substitutions.
Michael Mifsud marked his debut for the Wanderers with a goal while Stanley Ohawuchi showed his scoring prowess when hitting a brace.
Mifsud was not the only new face in Sliema’s team as Alfonso Greco named also former Gudja United defender Andrea Scozzese in his starting XI.
Nisevic, the Hibernians coach, awarded a starting role to English defender Rio Ahmadi and Triston Caruana who returned to the Paolites’ squad after his loan spell at Qormi during the last two seasons.
The game was less than six minutes old when Andrew Cohen bore down on goal through the middle and fired a low drive that hit the upright.
At the other end, Mifsud was proving a handful for the Hibernians defence with his darting runs down the right.
Shy of the half hour mark, Mifsud’s twisting and turning got him into the Hibernians box and the nippy striker curled his shot past goalkeeper Daniel Balzan and into the far corner.
As expected Greco virtually used all his substitutes at the start of the second half, putting in Marko Potezica, Luca Martinelli, Josef Mifsud and Miguel Ciantar, Henry Bonello and Axl Xuereb.
Only three minutes had elapsed after the restart when Sliema doubled their lead thanks to Oha-wuchi who had the better of Balzan with a delicate lob over the goalkeeper.
In the 58th minute, Paltemio Barbetti exposed gaps in the Hibs defence with a through ball for Ciantar who ran down the left before squaring to Ohawuchi who slotted home from close-range.
Hibernians: D. Balzan (82 R. Briffa), B. Muscat, J. Pearson, M. Bartolo (61 T. Tabone), T. Caruana, B. Kristensen (61 J. Bezzina), J. Lima, A. Cohen (73 J. Mbong), C. Failla (73 A. Azzopardi), R. Ahmedi (61 J. Dega-briele), Z. Levnaic (73 K. Tanti).
Sliema Wanderers: G. Zammit (46 H. Bonello), A. Muscat (46 L. Martinelli), A. Scozzese, J. Mintoff, M. Scerri (46 M. Potezica), M. Mifsud (46 M. Ciantar), S. Ohawuchi (60 P. Xuereb), R. Dalli (46 A. Xuereb), P. Barbetti, B. Muscat, S. Bianciardi (46 J. Mifsud).
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Playing today
Centenary Stadium: 7pm Valletta vs Birkirkara.