Sliema Wanderers 4
Ohawuchi 33, 47; Navarra 75, 85;
Qormi 0

Two goals apiece from strikers Stanley Ohawuchi and Andrea Navarra secured a perfect start to the season for Sliema Wanderers, last night.

Qormi did not manage a shot on target in the entire match as Sliema’s strikers showed them what finishing is all about.

Ohawuchi scored in each half to cap an impressive performance as there was still time for substitute Navarra to make an impact with two late goals.

Despite a summer of heavy investment, Qormi offered no resistance to their opponents.

In fact, new coach Tommaso Volpi, of Italy, handed starts to six summer signings with Leonardo Gabrieli, Owen Bugeja, Simone Bezzicchieri, Emerson Vella, Roderick Bajada and Federico Santaguido all making their Qormi debut.

In contrast to Volpi, his compatriot at Sliema, Alfonso Greco, featured only two new faces but there was still a sense of freshness about their play.

Former Balzan defender Jacob Borg was detailed to patrol the left flank while Pape Gueye slotted seamlessly into Sliema’s 4-1-4-1 formation as lone striker with Ohawuchi, Matias Muchardi, Mark Scerri and John Mintoff sitting in midfield in his support.

It was an artillery that pinned the Yellows back from the outset as Qormi struggled to get out of their own half.

The Wanderers dominated the early stages and it told past the half hour mark when Mintoff and Paltemio Barbetti combined to release Alex Muscat but Matthew Farrugia dived to his right to beat away the skipper’s pile-driver.

From the ensuing corner, Bianciardi laid the ball into the path of Ohawuchi and the Nigerian headed home in an untenanted net.

Few moments later, Triston Caruana’s goalbound shot hit Bianciardi’s chest. But Sliema were soon back on the front foot and Farrugia needed to be alert on 42 minutes to stop a Gueye’s close-range shot.

The second half took the same pattern and soon after the restart, Ohawuchi doubled Sliema’s lead after some excellent work from Mintoff.

Mintoff took possession in his own half, advanced towards the edge of the area before setting up Ohawuchi with a lofted pass and the latter tapped in a simple finish that gave Farrugia no chance.

Volpi’s men were caught out again 15 minutes from time, when Ohawuchi surged through Qormi’s defence before releasing Navarra who fired past Farrugia at the near post.

Navarra provided the final flourish on what ended up a routine victory as he headed home Muciardi’s corner five minutes from time.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-6.5 (83 I. Woods), J. Borg-6, P. Barbetti-6, J. Mintoff-7 (80 T. Cilia), M. Scerri-6, S. Ohawuchi-7.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, P. Gueye-5.5 (64 A. Navarra-6.5), M. Muchardi-6, S. Bianciardi-6.5.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5, A. Effiong-4, L. Gabrieli-5, R. Bajada-5, S. Bezziccheri-4, J. Chetcuti-5 (74 G. Azzopardi), T. Caruana-6 (84 K. Sciortino), E. Vella-4.5, O. Bugeja-5, D. Pisani-4.5, F. Santaguida-4.5 (46 A. Cassar-5).

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Bianciardi; Muchardi; Bajada.

BOV player of match: Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema Wanderers).