Sliema striker Stanley Ohawuchi (right) drifting past Daren Falzon, of Naxxar, yesterday. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Sliema Wanderers 2
Ohawuchi 27, 78;
Naxxar Lions 0

Naxxar Lions’ auspicious start to the season came to an abrupt halt as they failed to match Sliema Wanderers who were firing on all cylinders yesterday.

The Blues’ supremacy stemmed from the effective work of Matias Muchardi and Paltemio Barbetti in midfield as well as the slick movement of Stanley Ohawuchi in attack.

The early withdrawal of striker Gilmar was a terrible blow for Naxxar and their attacking abilities. Somehow, they managed to keep within touching distance of Sliema but that until Ohawuchi came to the fore.

Alfonso Greco made no changes to his team as his counterpart Winston Muscat had no option but to shuffle his pack. In fact, Terence Scerri and Ryan Cassar were absent after failing to recover from injury as Thiago Lopes was serving suspension.

Azzopardi handed flank defender Louis Cutajar his debut and first-team starts to Kurt Drago and Daren Falzon.

Sliema were first to threaten when Barbetti shot weakly into Julian Azzopardi’s hands from a good position. Muscat was forced into his first substitution after 20 minutes as Gilmar was visibly in pain. His place was taken by the former Mosta midfielder Ousseni Zongo who joined the Lions last week.

The Wanderers broke the deadlock seven minutes later.

Pape Gueye’s pile-driver cannoned off the base of the near post and the loose ball rolled towards Ohawuchi who rammed home past Azzopardi and into the corner of the net.

The goal was a just reward for the Nigerian who was proving a handful for the Naxxar defence with his incursions from midfield.

Sliema threatened again soon after when Barbetti’s free-kick sailed over a crowded box and finished just wide off the far post.

At the start of the second half, the Wanderers produced a long raid on the Lions’ goal.

Muchardi delivered an inviting ball towards the far post where Stefano Bianciardi headed over.

The Wanderers were now the dominant team with Muchardi wasting a chance to put in further daylight between his team and Naxxar when shooting straight into Azzopardi.

In a rare Naxxar counter-attack Andre Rocha da Silva laid the ball on for substitute Osi Agboebina but his effort lacked precision.

Naxxar’s fine play fizzled into thin air on 78 minutes as their defence was unlocked by a neat move. John Mintoff seized possession near the half-way line and released Ohawuchi who slotted his shot behind Azzopardi.

Naxxar’s troubles to cope with the work rate of Ohawuchi was evident again ten minutes from time when Angus Buhagiar’s late charge sent the striker sprawling inside the box. Referee Malcolm Spiteri pointed to the spot but Alex Muscat’s penalty cannoned off the bar.

In the dying minutes, Drago was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence after a foul on Abubaker Bello-Osagie. The Sliema substitute took the ensuing free-kick but his effort smacked against the woodwork.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-6, J. Borg-6, J. Mintoff-7 (90 T. Cilia), M. Scerri-5.5 (85 B. Muscat), S. Ohawuchi-7, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5.5, P. Gueye-6.5, P. Barbetti-7, M. Muchardi-7.5 (76 Bello Osagie), S. Bianciardi-6.5.

Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6, M. Briffa-5 (63 O. Agbo-ebina), A. Buhagiar-4.5, L. Cutajar-5 (77 V. Bellia), Gilmar (20 O. Zongo-5.5), A. De-cesare-5, P. Doffo-6, K. Drago, D. Falzon-5, A. Rocha da Silva-5.5, Evaldo-5.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Drago; Decesare.

Red card: Kurt Drago (N) 90.

BOV player of match: Stanley Oha-wuchi (Sliema Wanderers).