Sliema Wanderers 1
Hamrun Spartans 1
Down to ten men but leading thanks to Ivan Woods's first-half penalty with only three minutes of stoppage time left, Sliema Wanderers had high hopes of doing the double on Hamrun Spartans and dislodge Valletta from top spot in yesterday's opening match at the Centenary Stadium.
Playing their second match under coach Stephen Azzopardi, the Blues were made to look ordinary by the lively Spartans but as had been the case in the corresponding first round match when they suffered a 3-0 defeat, Hamrun were hampered by a lack of bite up front.
It looked as though further heartache was in store for them before Gaetan Spiteri, one of the Spartans' most influential performers, came to his side's rescue with a stoppage-time equaliser.
Spiteri's last-gasp goal took the Spartans on the 17-point mark while Sliema stayed second on 20 points, one ahead of Marsaxlokk.
Sliema's lengthy break from league action proved beneficial to Jeffrey Chetcuti. He earned his first start for two months after completing rehab from a knee injury.
Chetcuti was not the only member of Sliema's 'old guard' to earn a first-team recall as Ian Ciantar was also in the starting XI. Without Ian Azzopardi and Alex Muscat, both injured, Azzopardi deployed Chetcuti and Ciantar on the left and right side of a four-man defence. Serb midfielder Nesko Milovanovic was kept out by a one-match ban.
Hamrun also had their fair share of selection worries as coach Marco Gerada had to make do without midfielder Ryan Fenech, suspended, and injured trio Steve Meilak, Neville Galea and John Debattista.
In the opening stages of the match, played at the Centenary Stadium after the early rain prompted the MFA to shift the two-game programme away from the National Stadium, Noel Turner hooked away a tame header from Bratislav Timotic following a corner by Evano Briffa.
Sliema's first significant foray into Hamrun's half saw Woods serve Roderick Bajada who embarked on a run down the right. He managed to drag the ball back to Aleksandar Madzar from near the by-line but the Montenegro forward shot wide from a favourable position.
The early exchanges were even but it was the Spartans who came closest to breaking the deadlock.
Good movement by Spiteri through the middle unnerved the Sliema defence as the Hamrun man squared to Stefan Sultana whose firm drive from an angled position bounced wide of the far post.
Midway through the first half, Hamrun could have nosed ahead when Rupert Mangion, dynamic as ever, released Mark Anthony Bonnici inside the box but the latter took a touch too many and his ensuing shot was blocked by Ciantar.
Set out in a 4-3-3 formation, Sliema lacked fluency in their play but eight minutes from half-time, they found a breakthrough. They were awarded a penalty after Etienne Barbara ended on the turf after being challenged by Roderick Fenech.
Much to the chagrin of the Hamrun players and fans, referee Joe Attard pointed to the spot and Woods drilled his penalty shot past Michael Falzon.
On the verge of half-time, the Spartans should have levelled matters when Sultana slipped a through-ball to Spiteri who swivelled before directing a looping shot which sailed over the bar.
Referee Attard again caught the eyes of the Spartans fans for the wrong reasons when he dismissed Sean Sullivan, Hamrun's reserve goalkeeper, for protests.
Seven minutes into the second half, Falzon, the Hamrun goalkeeper, denied Barbara when turning his shot around the near post. At the other end, Alfred Effiong laid an inviting ball to Sultana but the latter's drive was deflected away for a corner.
There was little between the two teams in the initial stages of the second half but Sliema spurned a gilt-edged opportunity to wrap up the points.
Having just had a penalty appeal, for an alleged push by Timotic, turned down, Madzar flicked the ball just wide from point blank after receiving a perfect pass from Bajada. That was to be Bajada's last contribution to the game for he was red-carded on 66 minutes after he received a second booking for simulation, a somewhat harsh decision as the Sliema midfielder appeared to have been tripped.
The Spartans now stormed forward in search of an equaliser, Effiong heading inches wide after meeting a cross from Mangion.
Shortly afterwards, Effiong was charging through on goal but Murphy Akanji sprinted out of goal to avert danger before colliding with the Spartans striker. 'Foul' cried the Hamrun fans but the referee was unmoved.
Effiong failed to get back on his feet and was carried away on a stretcher. His place was taken by Kevin Borg.
Cutting in from the right, Mangion shot tamely into Akanji's hands as Hamrun maintained the pressure. Timotic then headed wide from a free-kick.
It looked as though Sliema had done enough to hold on to their lead but deep into stoppage time, the Spartans snatched a deserved equaliser.
A long pass from the middle was chested down by Sultana into the path of Spiteri who unleashed a first-time volley that soared above Akanji and into the far corner of the net.
Sliema: M. Akanji-6.5, B. Said-6, N. Turner-6.5, R. Bajada-, J. Chetcuti-6, I. Woods-5 ('78 O. Anonam), I. Ciantar-6, A. Madzar-5 ('85 M. Bartolo), R. Briffa-6, S. Pace-6.5, E. Barbara-6.
Hamrun: M. Falzon-6, M.A. Bonnici-6 ('90 M. Busuttil), P. Monye-7, A. Attard-6, E. Briffa-6.5, R. Fenech-6, S. Sultana-5.5, R. Mangion-7.5 ('85 D. Cucciardi), B. Timotic-5.5, G. Spiteri-6.5, A. Effiong-5 ('78 K. Borg).
Referee: Joe Attard.
Scorers: Woods 37 pen.; Spiteri 90.
Yellow cards: Attard; Falzon; Briffa; Bajada; Mangion; Anonam.
Red card: Bajada (S) 66.
BoV player of the match: Rupert Mangion (Hamrun Spartans).
Fixtures
Today (Centenary Stadium)
6 p.m. Floriana vs Mqabba;
8 p.m. Msida vs Pietà.