Valletta 0
Sliema Wanderers 0

The first top-of-the table clash of the second round pitted champions Valletta against the high-flying Sliema Wanderers.

In light of the proximity of the two teams in the standings and their positive form of late, expectations of a compelling encounter were high.

This match was also seen as a duel between Valletta coach Paul Zammit and Sliema's Stephen Azzopardi, both renowned for their obsession with tactics.

The two coaches will have been pleased with the tactical organisation of their teams yesterday as Valletta and Sliema Wanderers cancelled each other out in a goalless stalemate.

Egged on by their fans, these two perennial challengers tore into each other but their endeavours failed to yield a goal.

Sliema were the brighter team in the opening half but after the break, it was Valletta who dictated matters as they came close to snatching a winner with a series of corners late in the match.

The drawn outcome lifted Sliema to the top of the standings, level with Hibs on 19 points while Valletta are fourth with 17. The Citizens and the Paolites, 6-0 winners over Birkirkara in midweek, have a game in hand on the Blues.

Weakened by the absence of four regular players, Valletta coach Paul Zammit was obliged to indulge in a series of positional switches.

Justin Grioli was moved to central midfield where he operated alongside David Camilleri as the Citizens, coming on a run of three straight wins, had captain Gilbert Agius, suspended, and the injured trio of Jamie Pace, Stefan Giglio and Edmund Agius, out of the reckoning for yesterday's match.

Dyson Falzon, back after recovering from a hamstring injury, started wide on the left and Jonathan Bondin, scorer of Valletta's fourth goal against Ħamrun, was deployed on the right of midfield.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Sliema Wanderers coach, had Ivan Woods in an advanced central position as Matthew Bartolo and Alex Muscat were again detailed to augment their team's attacking play from the wings. Sliema, who had Kosta Bjedov missing through injury, started a conservative version of 3-4-3 yesterday while Valletta stuck to a 4-4-2 system.

The game was 11 minutes old when Sliema threatened to break the stalemate. Woods held off the attentions of Luke Dimech but his effort was pawed away by the on-rushing Andrew Hogg.

Five minutes later, Valletta had the ball in the net when Doding Priso fired home after Henry Bonello could only parry Ian Zammit's scorcher but the Cameroonian striker was adjudged to have been in an offside position.

The mutual resolve of these two teams to establish an early foothold in the match made for an interesting start. Close to the 20th minute mark, Roderick Briffa swung over an inviting cross to the other side of the area where Daniel Severino conjured up a volley that sailed over.

As the first half gathered pace, goalmouth action became scarce amid the teams' struggles to force their way past the opposing defensive lines.

Sliema ought to have stormed in front when, seven minutes before half-time, Bartolo lofted the ball towards Severino inside the D and the Australian midfielder, who spotted Woods' run into the box, duly served him with a perfectly-hit pass. The Malta international was unmarked on the right but skied his shot high and wide.

The more creative football was now being played by the Blues as Valletta were finding it hard to counter their opponents in the middle.

Yet, the Citizens might have nosed ahead a minute before the break when Falzon produced a good cross from the left and Priso towered high to meet the ball but his header flashed wide.

Wary of the attacking threat posed by Zammit and Priso, Azzopardi instructed his three main defenders, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Branko Nisevic and Ian Azzopardi to stay close to the City forwards at all times. This meant that Sliema always had three men at the back even when they attacked.

Early in the second half, the reinvigorated Zammit pulled the ball back for Grioli whose grounder was easily blocked by Bonello.

Valletta's forceful pressing and better mobility by their players forced Sliema to cede the initiative in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

Danger loomed for Valletta when Briffa, one of Sliema's most influential players, roared forward down the right but his cross was cut out by Hogg.

At the other end, Bonello blocked a header by Zammit from Steve Bezzina's cross.

With 19 minutes remaining, Zammit threw Cleaven Frendo in the fray with Bondin making way for the Malta winger.

Grioli summoned another strong drive that finished wide and Zammit fired over from the distance.

Twelve minutes from time, Azzopardi tried to refresh his attack by putting in Miguel Ciantar and Roderick Bajada for Muscat and Bartolo respectively.

The battle of tactical wits between Zammit and Azzopardi continued as the Valletta mentor brought on Dylan Grima for Falzon and his Sliema counterpart substituted Azzopardi with Mark Scerri.

In the dying moments, the Sliema defence was subjected to a spell of sustained pressure. Scerri saved Sliema when blocking Zammit's far-post attempt from Camilleri's corner and Bonello did likewise from another set-piece cross by the veteran midfielder.

Valletta
A. Hogg-7.5, J. Grioli-6.5, J. Mifsud-6, L. Dimech-7, S. Bezzina-6.5, K. Scicluna-6, D. Camilleri-6, D. Priso-6.5, J;. Bondin-6 ('71 C. Frendo-6), I. Zammit-8 ('90 J. Muscat), D. Falzon-5.5 ('80 D. Grima).

Sliema
H. Bonello-6, A. Muscat-5 ('78 M. Ciantar), I. Azzopardi-6.5 ('80 M. Scerri), B, Nisevic-6.5, M. Bartolo-6 ('78 R. Bajada), J. Chetcuti-7, I. Woods-6, D. Severino-6, I. Ciantar-6, R. Briffa-8, C. Ciantar-6.5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Zammit; C. Ciantar; Bajada; Chetcuti.

BoV player of the match: Ivan Woods (Sliema).