Valletta 0
Sliema Wanderers 1
Nisevic 60

Revelling in their newly-gained status of champions and unbeaten in their last 20 league matches, Valletta came into their encounter with Sliema Wanderers with the aim of preserving their positive sequence.

The enthusiasm and joy of the City fans at their team's title triumph can only have increased the players' motivation to extend their undefeated run on what was a blustery and overcast evening. However, Valletta's famed willpower was matched, and perhaps eclipsed, by that of a fired-up Sliema team who needed to win at all costs to maintain their challenge for a UEFA Cup spot.

On a high after three consecutive victories, Sliema made it four in a row yesterday when they gained a deserved 1-0 win over Valletta who, for all their endeavour to foil their opponents, looked tired and short of inspiration.

For the Blues, this win puts them level on 31 points with third-placed Birkirkara and just one behind Marsaxlokk with only one game left, meaning that the race for second and third positions will be decided on the final day of the league campaign.

Paul Zammit made three alterations from the team that swept Floriana aside last week. One of these changes was forced upon the City coach by the suspension of Frank Temile who was replaced by Ian Zammit. Jonathan Bondin and Dyson Falzon were given the nod to start ahead of Justin Grioli and Heiner Backhaus.

Sliema coach Stephen Azzopardi was forced into a last-minute change as captain Brian Said, whose name was on the teamsheet, pulled up during the warm-up. His void was filled by Branko Nisevic who was one of four players earning a first-team recall, the others being goalkeeper Henry Bonello, who deputised for the injured Murphy Akanji, Ian Ciantar, who replaced the suspended Alex Muscat, and Jeffrey Chetcuti, the latter preferred to Noel Turner who was on the bench.

Before kick-off, Robert Arrigo, the outgoing president of Sliema Wanderers, presented a bouquet of flowers to Victor Sciriha, the Valletta president. The latter reciprocated by giving Arrigo a ball commemorating Valletta's title triumph.

Sliema were dangerous after five minutes. Ivan Woods, who moments earlier had skied his shot high and wide from a good position, threaded a through-pass to Etienne Barbara whose run took him past the City defence but his rising shot from the right edge of the penalty area was deflected away for a corner.

Valletta stirred but their attempts at taking the game to Sliema did not stretch the latter's defence beyond routine work. On 24 minutes, Sliema's Roderick Briffa fashioned an insidious low shot from outside the penalty area but Andrew Hogg turned the ball around the near post.

For the whole of 10 minutes, there was not one genuine scoring chance at either end but with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Sebastian Monesterolo threatened to unlock the Sliema defence with a typically ghosting run to reach a long ball from midfield but Nisevic came rushing back to belt the ball away for a corner.

Sliema replied with a move that saw Woods laying the ball to Roderick Bajada whose shot was deviated for a corner by Bondin. Just before the break, Hogg again thwarted Sliema with a tipping save from another Briffa effort.

The Wanderers were the more enterprising side in the early stages of the second half. After 10 minutes, Bajada made good progress down the inside-left channel but his tame strike was easily dealt with by Hogg.

A jinking run by Barbara caused consternation among the City defenders but the Malta striker's pass from inside the penalty area was blocked by Steve Bezzina.

Valletta's resistance was breached on the hour mark when Bajada's cross from a left-wing corner soared over a host of players and straight to Nisevic who headed past Hogg.

Sliema thought they had taken a significant step towards victory when, on 64 minutes, Woods glanced the ball past Hogg from Bajada's free-kick but the 'goal' was disallowed after the Sliema striker was adjudged to have hit the ball with his hands.

The Wanderers continued to hold an edge on their opponents as Valletta were outmuscled in the middle and it was this weakness that perhaps prompted Zammit to bring on Backhaus for Falzon.

The Citizens should have made it 1-1 16 minutes from time when Mifsud's raking cross from a deep position flew above the backtracking Sliema defenders and into the path of Monesterolo but the Argentine headed over.

Shortly afterwards, Bonello needed two attempts to tame Monesterolo's grounder.

Five minutes from time, Woods created space for a shot inside the box after sidestepping an opponent but his final attempt was cleared away by Kenneth Scicluna. Hogg was then forced to sprint off his line to intercept Woods's pass for the advancing Barbara.

Sliema shouted 'penalty' when Andre Rocha Da Silva went down under the weight of Scicluna's challenge but the referee saw nothing untoward.

It was then Hogg's turn to deny Sliema's Brazilian midfielder when blocking his central shot from just outside the box after Orosco Anonam and Bajada had combined to provide the opening for Da Silva.

In stoppage time, Bonello punched away David Camilleri's free-kick as Hogg surged upfield in a last-ditch attempt to help his team gain an equaliser.

Valletta discussing Sampdoria friendly

Valletta have initiated talks with Sampdoria about the possibility of playing the Serie A team in a friendly match in the first week of next month.

Well-placed sources have told The Sunday Times that there is a good chance that the Citizens will reach agreement with Sampdoria to arrange the friendly match, which will be probably played at the Hibs Ground, to mark Valletta's 19th championship.

Although the local Premier League season concludes next weekend, Valletta made sure of their title success last week after opening up an unassailable lead at the top of the standings.

Valletta A. Hogg-6.5, J. Bondin-6, J. Mifsud-6.5, K. Scicluna-6, S. Bezzina-6.5, I. Zammit-5.5 ('87 J. Grioli), D. Camilleri-6, S. Giglio-5 ('76 K. Magro), D. Falzon-5.5 ('65 H. Backhaus-6), G. Agius-6, S. Monesterolo-5.5.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6.5, B. Nisevic-6.5, M. Scerri-6, R. Bajada-7, M. Bartolo-5 ('79 A. Rocha Da Silva), J. Chetcuti-6.5, I. Woods-7 ('89 O. Anonam), I. Ciantar-6.5, R. Briffa-6, E. Barbara-7 ('90 M. Ciantar).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Briffa; Azzopardi.

BoV Player of the match: Etienne Barbara (Sliema Wanderers).