Msida St Joseph 0
Sliema Wanderers 3
Coto 23; Dronca 45 pen.; Muscat 54

Sliema Wanderers secured a place in the Championship Pool after they eased past Msida St Joseph in a one-sided encounter.

Alex Muscat was again Sliema's top performer, the Malta wing-back offering a constant threat to the Saints with his surging runs down the right flank. It didn't come as a surprise that Muscat was among his team's scorers.

For Sliema, this win was a vital one as, apart from confirming their presence in the top six, it also ended a poor run of three successive league defeats.

Msida, on their part, are sorely missing the scoring prowess of Brazilian forward Pedro Calcado. His absence is hampering their ambitions of clinching a slot in the Championship Pool.

Defeat to Sliema has increased the pressure on Msida. They will be anxious spectators at tonight's match between Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara where a win for the latter or a draw would see them through.

On the other hand, a win for Marsaxlokk today would leave Msida facing up to the prospect of a decisive final second round match against the southerners.

Yesterday's result also meant that Floriana are now sure of playing in the Championship Pool.

Msida coach Joe Abdilla effected one change to the team that lost to Ħamrun last week, Kenneth Spiteri making way for Elliott Navarro.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Sliema coach, was buoyed by the return from suspension of Mark Scerri but Australian midfielder Daniel Saverino was not included in the 18-man squad as he has just returned from a trial with a Chinese club.

Victor Coto regained his place in Sliema's starting team but Italian Samsiro Furfaro was not named in the squad.

Sliema soon went on the offensive and after only three minutes, Ian Azzopardi's curling shot from a free-kick was pushed away by the diving Matthew Camilleri.

The Wanderers threatened again on 14 minutes when Muscat sped into the area but his angled drive came off the upright with Camilleri beaten.

Sliema's pressure finally paid off on 23 minutes when the overlapping Muscat sent in an inviting cross that was headed home by Coto.

Encouraged by this opener, Sliema stayed on top with Msida posing little danger as their attacking play lacked punch with Kurt Magro and Mark Camilleri too isolated up front.

Three minutes from the interval, Sliema looked to have suffered a blow when striker Ivan Woods picked up an ankle injury. He was replaced by Matthew Bartolo.

Despite this setback, Sliema doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Coto tumbled to the ground when trying to evade Andrew Spiteri. Referee Chris Lautier looked at his assistant Alan Camilleri who instantly signalled a penalty.

Lucian Dronca took responsibility for the penalty and planted the ball into the right-hand corner.

After the restart, Msida increased their efforts to reopen the issue.

On 52 minutes, they were awarded a free-kick inside the area after Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello was adjudged to have picked up a backpass from Jeffrey Chetcuti. However, Adrian Farrugia's drive came off Roderick Bajada.

Sliema made the points safe two minutes later when Bajada passed to the steaming Muscat who beat Camilleri with a firm shot.

On 63 minutes, Bajada almost struck the fourth goal when his piledriver from outside the area hit the upright before bouncing off Camilleri but to Msida's relief, the ball rolled wide.

Fourteen minutes from time, Dronca's thumping header finished just wide.

Eight minutes from time, Msida substitute Karl Ebejer picked up a loose ball outside the Sliema area but his dipping shot flew just wide.

At the other end, it was another substitute, Sliema's Bartolo, who almost put his name on the scoresheet but his shot was off target.

Msida St Joseph
M. Camilleri-6, S. Grima-5, A. Spiteri-4.5 ('74 S. Vella), T. Farrugia-5, K. Mifsud-5.5, D. Cachia-5, A. Da Silva-6.5, A. Farrugia-6, E. Navarro-5 ('56 K. Ebejer-5), K. Magro-4.5, M. Camilleri-4.5.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6 ('73 S. Agius), A. Muscat-7.5 ('70 J. Vella), I. Azzopardi-6.5, N. Turner-6, M. Scerri-6, J. Chetcuti-6, I. Woods-5.5 ('43 M. Bartolo-6), L. Dronca-6.5, I. Ciantar-5.5, V. Coto-6.5, R. Bajada-7.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

BOV player of the match: Alex Muscat (Sliema Wanderers).

Playing today

National Stadium: 19.30 Marsaxlokk vs Birkirkara.