SLIEMA WANDERERS 1

Pisanu 72

FLORIANA 1

Piciollo 50,

Midfielder Andrea Pisanu salvaged a point for Sliema Wanderers in the Old-Firm derby against Floriana. The 1-1 draw was a fair outcome to a hard-fought encounter that came to life after the break.

Following a drab first half, in which neither side managed to impose territorial supremacy, the second period was a different story as the two teams tried to win the match. Both Floriana and Sliema could find reasons to feel cheerful, Floriana for the way they performed, Sliema for the way they reacted.

The Blues had the better of the early exchanges but their pressure hardly unsettled Floriana. In the 12th minute, Barbetti’s free-kick prompted Mifsud to dash into the box but his angled drive finished just wide. Four minutes later, Sliema were foiled by the goal frame as Andrea Pisanu’s free-kick rattled the crossbar.

A rare breakaway by Floriana almost pad instant dividends after 23 minutes. Sliema were found wanting at the back as Piciollo made good progress before guiding a cross towards Vito Plut. The Slovenian striker produced a smart save from Glenn Zammit.

Sliema needed their most creative elements, the likes of Barbetti, Mifsud and Pisanu to find their touch and rhythm but this was not forthcoming. Late in the first half, Floriana broke on the counter but Piciollo’s shot was too central to trouble Zammit.

Sliema started the second half promisingly, Marko Potezica pushing forward from midfield, heading wide form Mintoff’s cross.

In their next foray, Floriana opened the score, Piciollo was allowed space and time to wriggle his way into the Sliema box before delivering an exquisite lob over the keeper and into the net on 50 minutes.

But Sliema made it 1-1 on 72 minutes. Substitute Trevor Cilia, coming on for injured Alex Muscat, delivered a perfectly-flighted cross from the right caught the Floriana defence by surprise and into the path of Pisanu whose effort soared over the stranded Glenn Zammit.