Sliema Wanderers secured a place in the Europa League after gaining a deserved a 2-0 win over Qormi in a decider this evening at the National Stadium.

Sliema produced the better football in the first half. Clayton Failla drew a fine save from Qormi goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia after six minutes. With Qormi struggling to settle down, Sliema maintained their early momentum. Farrugia denied Sliema again when pushing away Ryan Fenech’s menacing corner.

The Wanderers went close again when John Mintoff switched the ball to the sprinting Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza but the latter’s first-time striker was off target.

At the other end, Jeremy Alden, the young Sliema goalkeeper who deputised for Simon Agius (who pulled out of the game after filing a judicial protest against his club), did well to block a dangerous run by Qormi striker Alfred Effiong. Ivan Woods headed wide from Failla’s corner on 31 minutes as Sliema continued to dictate matters against their disjointed opponents.

Early in the second half, Woods supplied an intelligent pass to release Mifsud Triganza but the Sliema striker blasted wide.

Five minutes after the restart, Sliema were awarded a penalty after Qormi defender Ramon was deemed to have pushed Woods in the box. Lucian Dronca drove his penalty shot past the diving Farrugia to give Sliema a deserved lead. Sliema threatened to pile further misery on their subdued opponents when Noel Turner, a second-half substitute for the injured Failla, freed Mifsud Triganza but out came Farrugia to clear the danger. Scoring opportunities were few and far between but Qormi gained a tonic 11 minutes from time when Sliema’s Ryan Fenech was sent off for swearing.

Qormi rallied in the final minutes but they could not find a way past the solid Sliema defence. Massimo Grima had a close-range header deflected over the bar and then hit wide from a free-kick. Brazilian striker Camilo did likewise but deep into stoppage time,

Sliema sealed the issue when Mifsud Triganza poked home from close range after his initial cross-shot took a ricochet off Ramon.

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