SLIEMA WANDERERS-0, QORMI-0

Sliema Wanderers and Qormi had to settle for a point apiece after their first round meeting ended goalless this evening.

The first half produced few chances of note. Qormi striker Kosta Bjedov created space for a shot after seven minutes but his effort was wide. Three minutes later, Qormi created a better scoring chance. Jonathan Bondin supplied a cross from the right, George Mallia guided the ball towards Bjedov but the latter headed wide from a favourable position.

Stefan Giglio’s strong shot from a free-kick flew wide of the far post as Qormi continued to show the better ideas. Sliema may have taken the lead in their first notable attack on 19 minutes as Nigerian striker Obinna Obiefule sprinted into the box but his central shot was kept out by Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper.

The remainder of the first half was marked by a shortage of scoring opportunities as the two teams struggled for creativity. Qormi made the better start to the second half. Mallia missed a good chance as he shot straight at Szentpeteri from an inviting position. Defender Jason Vandelannoite then headed just wide from Cleaven Frendo’s corner.

The hitherto low-key Sliema finally showed up in the Qormi box on 62 minutes. A lengthy raid saw the Blues fire a string of shots but Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza’s mishit strike was wide and Obiefule’s scissor-kick was also off target. In the final stages, Sliema’s penalty claims after Mifsud Triganza was challenged by Giglio in the box, were turned down by referee Adrian Azzopardi.

After striking a low show that ended just wide, Bjedov should have sneaked a late winner for Qormi when man-of-the-match Bello-Osagie served him in the box but the Croatian forward fired over the bar.