Floriana 0
Sliema Wanderers 1
Mifsud Triganza 74;
Sliema Wanderers claimed the spoils in the first Old Firm duel of the season as they edged Floriana 1-0 after both teams had been reduced to ten men.
After a low-key first half, in which the dismissal of Sliema Wanderers midfielder Ryan Grech was the only episode of note, the game came to life after the break.
It was Floriana who began to dominate proceedings but the red card to goalkeeper William Amamoo jolted their momentum and offered Sliema a route back into the game.
The Blues grabbed their chance with both hands as Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza struck in the latter stages to maintain the Wanderers’ unbeaten start and hand the Greens their first defeat.
Sliema coach Danilo Doncic was boosted by the return of Alex Muscat and Rumen Galabov who were making their first appearances this season after both recovered from injuries. Timmy Thomas was ruled out of the match by a knee injury.
Michael Woods, the Floriana coach, gave a debut to Ghana goalkeeper Amamoo who was preferred to Manuel Bartolo despite the latter’s reassuring performances in the team’s previous matches. Midfielder Christian Caruana was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Prior to kick-off, the Sliema players put a bouquet of flowers on the subs’ bench as a mark of respect for former club president Edwin Meli who passed away last month.
It was Floriana who threatened first after 13 minutes when, in a swift break, Ivan Woods served Christian Cassar who let fly a powerful drive that was easily blocked by Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper.
The match remained balanced with neither side seemingly capable of taking control with the result that scoring chances were at a premium.
We had to wait until the 33rd minute for the next attempt at goal. It was Floriana’s Tyrone Farrugia who tried his luck from the distance but his effort bounced wide.
Two minutes later, Sliema’s Brazilian forward Jorge broke free on the right but he failed to trouble Amamoo as his angled drive missed the target.
Sliema suffered a blow a minute later when Grech was shown a second yellow card followed by the red for a strong challenge on Woods.
Despite their numerical handicap, Sliema remained dangerous on the break. Four minutes from half-time Muscat served Mifsud Triganza who showed great skill to turn past his marker but his deflected shot ended just wide.
The Sliema forward was dangerous again in stoppage time. Swooping on a short clearance by the Floriana defence, Mifsud Triganza hit an overhead kick which flashed just wide.
At half-time, Woods withdrew Thomas Paris and roped in striker Joseph Okonkwo as he looked to improve his team’s firepower.
The Nigerian substitute almost made an instant mark as, after 48 minutes, he was first to a Cassar free-kick but his firm header flew wide.
Sliema went close to taking the lead on 53 minutes when Jorge delivered a powerful drive that finished just over.
Doncic looked to strengthen his backline when he withdrew Danail Mitev for Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
Despite their territorial dominance, Floriana were struggling to create clear chances. Their task became more complicated on 66 minutes when Amamoo charged out of his goal to block a long pass but handled the ball outside the box and was subsequently dismissed by referee Clayton Pisani.
Woods immediately brought on Bartolo who replaced Boris Odwong.
From the resultant free-kick, Mifsud Triganza’s drive came off the wall. The rebound dropped to Gatt Baldacchino who was denied by Bartolo.
Sliema forced a breakthrough on 74 minutes when Jackson Lima cut inside from the right and hammered a powerful strike that was partially blocked by Bartolo. Mifsud Triganza was on the right spot to tuck the ball home.
Mifsud Triganza almost scored again on 77 minutes but his audacious chip was touched away by the alert Bartolo.
The slick Sliema striker continued to unsettle the Floriana defence. Eight minutes from the end, he was unlucky not to get his second goal when his swerving drive came off the upright.
Floriana
W. Amamoo, O. Bugeja-6 (83 J. Borg), M. Micallef-5, T. Farrugia-6.5, D. Pisani-6, P. Doffo-6, I. Woods-6, T. Paris-5 (46 J. Okonkwo-6), C. Cassar-6.5, J. Mintoff-6, B. Odwong-5 (69 M. Bartolo-5).
Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-6 (67 M. Scerri-6), J. Mifsud-6, R. Grech, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7.5 (90 J. Ani), D. Mitev-5 (55 C. Gatt Baldacchino-6), S. Bezzina-6, J. Lima-7, R. Galabov-6.5, R. Bajada-6, Jorge-6.5.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Yellow cards: Grech; Paris; Micallef; Bonello; Farrugia.
Red cards: Grech (S) 36; Amamoo (F) 66.
BOV player of the match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Sliema).
Attendance: 1,249.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Valletta | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 9 |
| Hibernians | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| Sliema | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Floriana | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Birkirkara | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Marsaxlokk | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Qormi | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Balzan Youths | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Tarxien | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| Ħamrun | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Mqabba | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Mosta | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Note: Balzan win protest against Ħamrun Spartans, awarded 2-0 win.
Playing today
National Stadium: BOV Premier League 6 p.m. Balzan Youths vs Mosta; 8 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Mqabba.
U*Bet FA Trophy
First round results: Qrendi vs Għajnsielem 2-1; Kerċem vs Nadur 0-1; Għaxaq vs Pembroke Athleta 1-2.