Birkirkara 0
Sliema Wanderers 1
Ani 57;

Sliema Wanderers kept the pace with the front-runners after a 1-0 victory over Birkirkara who have gained only one point from their last three games.

Jerry Ani’s solitary goal might suggest that Sliema won narrowly but it is deceptive as the Blues were superior to their off-form opponents yesterday.

It is now three games out of five without a victory for Patrick Curmi’s side and, coming off a disappointing 2-2 draw with Mqabba, their poor showing yesterday revealed some uncomfortable truths about the Stripes.

Sliema highlighted all the weaknesses in the ranks of their opposition. On the back of their recent performances, Birkirkara look to lack the killer instinct to challenge the likely quartet of Valletta, Hibs, Sliema and Floriana for the title.

Such a maddening puzzle is left for Curmi to unravel. He has to pick up the pieces and recreate a team that lost its way since winning the title two years ago.

On the other side of the coin, Sliema’s performance was encouraging, reflecting the progress the team has made since Danilo Doncic took over in February. The Blues, unbeaten after five matches, look strong enough to challenge for a top-three position.

Curmi effected two changes to his starting formation from the Mqabba game. Midfielder Rowen Muscat returned to the side after recovering from an ankle problem while newly-signed Nigerian striker Shola Haruna Shodiya made his much awaited debut. Ryan Scicluna and Leighton Grech were dropped from the starting line-up.

Curmi set his team out in a 4-3-3 configuration with Haruna, Moises Avila Perez and Trevor Cilia leading their attack.

Suspension deprived Sliema coach Danilo Doncic of Danial Mitev with Ani taking up the central attacking role at the tip of a 4-3-2-1 module. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza switched to play in the hole between midfield and the forward line and Jackson Lima Sequiera and Jorge Santos Silva operated on the flanks.

Birkirkara came into the match under intense pressure following their poor start to the season and their nerves were palpable early on as Spanish goalkeeper Jorge Mora pushed away Mifsud Triganza’s swerving free-kick inside the first five minutes.

Jackson Lima was then denied by the Spaniard after Sliema’s Brazilian playmaker had ghosted past Rodriguez Pereira.

Birkirkara might have taken the lead after 18 minutes but Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello was on the right spot to tip Pereira’s scorching shot over the bar.

The Stripes found the net through the opportunistic Haruna. Referee Chris Lautier appeared to allow the Nigerian’s 25-minute effort as Haruna looked ecstatic for scoring on his debut but his joy was short-lived as assistant referee Mariano Debono raised his flag to signal an infringement. A quick consultation with the referee followed and the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.

Sliema suffered a setback just before half-time when Mark Scerri limped off injured with Clifford Gatt Baldacchino taking his place.

Yet, Doncic made another substitution after the break as he switched to a 4-1-4-1 formation. His decision to replace Mifsud Triganza with Ryan Grech necessitated some positional switches with Gatt Baldacchino dropping back to a defensive role and Alex Muscat moving forward to provide support from the wings.

Doncic was rewarded for his tactical nous and after just 12 minutes from the restart Muscat teed the ball up for Ani who arrowed an angled shot past Mora.

The game opened up and Birkirkara had opportunities of their own, Pereira’s well-hit free-kick coming off the crossbar on the hour mark.

But Sliema began pouring forward and were it not for Mora, they would have certainly extended their advantage.

On 67 minutes, he showed stunning reactions to tip Bajada’s effort over the bar. From the corner, Jorge Santos Silva delivered a teasing cross that Josef Mifsud could not connect with.

At this point, Curmi introduced Alan Tabone with his team switching to an offensive 3-4-3 formation.

But this change in tactics bore no fruit for the Stripes as Muscat squandered a fine opportunity to increase Sliema’s lead, shooting straight at Mora after 74 minutes.

Given that his men had failed to lift their performance, Curmi took the opportunity to reshuffle personnel as well, throwing Leighton Grech and Terence Vella in the fray.

But the Stripes’ reaction was desperately tame with Avila’s cross-cum-shot from the left six minutes from the end posing no trouble to Bonello.

Birkirkara
J. Mora -6.5, R. Pereira-6.5, G. Sciberras-5, P. Fenech-6, T. Cilia-5 (81 L. Grech), A. Decesare-6 (90 T. Vella), R. Muscat-5 (70 A. Tabone), M. Avila-5, J. Zerafa-5, A. Buhagiar-5, S. Shodiya Haruna-7.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-8 (77 B. Muscat), J. Mifsud-6, M. Scerri-5 (45 C. Gatt Baldachino-6), J. Mifsud Triganza-5 (45 R. Grech-6), J. Ani-6.5, S. Bezzina-6, Jackson Lima-6, R. Galabov-6, R.Bajada-6.5, Jorge Santos Silva-7.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Zerafa; Grech; Mora; Fenech; Lima; Decesare.

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

Attendance: 651.

Standings

Note: Balzan win protest against Ħam-run Spartans, awarded 2-0 win.