Racing clear... Sliema’s Fabio Mangiacasale pushes forward against Pietà. Photos: Paul Zammit Cutajar

Pietà Hotspurs 0
Sliema Wanderers 2
Mangiacasale 15; Scerri 90;

Sliema Wanderers finally broke their duck after a barren patch of two defeats and three draws that led to growing cynicism about their credentials to challenge for the championship this season.

The Wanderers did the bare minimum to take all three points with a goal from newcomer Fabio Mangiacasale on 15 minutes setting them on their way.

Alfonso Greco’s side showed little motivation after that goal and almost paid the price in the second half as Pietà improved. But Mark Scerri eased their fraying nerves with a late strike.

Greco responded to his team’s debacle against Valletta by reshuffling his formation.

Andrea Pisanu and Luca Martinelli were drafted back into the starting XI while Mangiacasale made his full debut.

Italian forward Filippo Talato had to settle for a place on the bench as Beppe Muscat and Marco Potezica were not in the squad.

Pietà coach Noel Coleiro also made a raft of changes from the 3-1 loss to Hibs. Brazilian Gabriel and Orosco Anonam were in the starting formation, replacing Nikola Tasic and Cleaven Cassar while Kyle Decesare was given the nod ahead of Terence Agius.

The early exchanges were devoid of scoring chances but, on 15 minutes, Mangiacasale intercepted a pass and burst clear before arrowing a shot above David Cassar, the Pietà goalkeeper.

After a somewhat indifferent start, Sliema began to dominate but lacked fluidity in attack. Danger loomed for Pietà after 38 minutes when Guy Kassa Gnabouyou squared the ball to Michael Mifsud. The Malta captain lifted the ball goalwards but his lob was weak and Christian Grech cleared.

In the 54th minute, Claudio Francis temporarily broke Sliema’s dominance. Picked out by Rafael Rodrigues, Francis controlled well but his effort brought a smart save from Glenn Zammit.

A sweeping counter-attack almost yielded an equaliser for Pietà on 70 minutes. Retrieving possession in midfield, Francis chipped the ball for Rafael Xavier but the latter’s teasing cross was headed out by Martinelli.

The Hotspurs continued to press forward. Six minutes from time, Francis’s corner from the left soared towards the far post where Jurgen Pisani flicked the ball towards goal but Clifford Gatt Baldacchino cleared the danger.

Sliema would have sealed the issue but for a timely block by Cain Attard who slid in to stop Mangiacasale’s drive after the latter had been released by Trevor Cilia, who had come on for Mifsud.

At the death, the tension among the Sliema fans turned into joy.

Reaching a through-ball by Paltemio Barbetti, Scerri showed excellent poise to round the onrushing Cassar before unleashing a rising shot that nestled into the top corner.

Pietà Hotspurs
D. Cassar-6, C. Attard-6, C. Grech-7, L. Fortunato-6, J. Pisani-6.5, K. Cesare-5 (61 N. Tasic-5), O. Anonam-6 (71 T. Agius-5), R. Rodrigues-6.5, R. Xavier-6, C. Francis-7, Gabriel-5 (55 L. Micallef-5).

Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-6, L. Martinelli-6.5, J. Mintoff-6, M. Scerri-7, M. Mifsud-6 (87 T. Cilia), A. Pisanu-7.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6.5, F. Mangiacasale-6.5, G. Gnabouyou-6 (76 F. Talato), P. Barbetti-6.5, S. Bianciardi-6.5.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Rodrigues; Martinelli; Xavier; Cilia.

BOV player of the match: Andrea Pisanu (Sliema Wanderers).