Sliema Wanderers 0
Floriana 0

A spectacular late save from goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo earned Floriana a point as Sliema Wanderers failed to win for the third successive game.

The Floriana goalkeeper denied Cleaven Frendo with a brilliant one-handed save when he found himself face to face with the Blues player in a dour and uninspiring goalless draw.

Bartolo read the game well and made some impressive stops from Jorge as the goalkeeper emerged the winner in what developed into a personal duel with the Brazilian.

Despite being unable to convert their territorial advantage into clear opportunities, Sliema were far superior in the opening period.

Floriana steadied the ship after the break and created a couple of half chances of their own and did improve after the introduction of Ivan Woods but the fact that it took until the 71st minute for Henry Bonello to make a serious save, tells its own story.

The goalless draw at the National Stadium saw the Greens preserving their seven-point lead over the sixth-placed Wanderers intact, but neither side covered themselves in glory.

The Old Firm supporters are entitled to a better standard of football than they witnessed in the derby game yesterday.

Michael Woods’ selection underlined his loyalty to the old football adage “you should never change a winning side”.

Confirming the formation that began the 1-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows the previous weekend, the Floriana coach left the returning Ivan Woods on the bench.

Sliema welcomed back five players with Rumen Galabov heading the list of returnees as Danilo Doncic was also boosted by the return of Danail Mitev, Steve Bezzina, Josef Mifsud and Cleaven Frendo who missed the 1-1 draw with Mqabba through suspension.

Sliema midfielder Jorge gave Floriana a signal of intent as goalkeeper Bartolo’s point-blank reactions were tested inside the first 15 minutes following a good move down the right. The Brazilian sliced open the Greens defence, picking up the ball 30 metres out on the right before driving into the area.

After 20 minutes, Sliema defender Beppe Muscat drifted inside and ran towards goal, taking a defender with him, before laying the ball off to Jorge on the right. The Brazilian, however, must have been disappointed not to convert a seemingly simple chance.

On the half hour mark, Floriana were given a fright when Bartolo spilled Frendo’s 20-metre free-kick into the path of Mitev but the goalkeeper made amends to block the follow-up.

Ten minutes later, weaving his way into a shooting position, Jorge seemed certain to roll the ball into the bottom corner but he dragged his shot agonisingly wide.

This Brazilian’s effort capped a string of spurned chances as Sliema laid siege on Floriana’s goal.

Floriana’s opening had been subdued as the Wanderers dominated possession but after the interval they finally demonstrated a measure of self-belief and threat. The Greens improved after the introduction of Woods just after the hour mark.

His ability to draft away from his markers offered Sliema a different challenge to contend with. In the 71st minute, the Malta international midfielder came close with a close-range effort after a neat piece of ball juggling and fierce shot. Woods was then denied by a superb reaction save from Bonello.

However, it was Bartolo who made the most notable intervention on 78 minutes when the former Birkirkara goalkeeper was at his best to keep out Frendo’s effort that all but saved the result for his team.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6, B. Muscat-6.5, R. Bajada-5.5, Jackson Lima-6, Jorge-6.5, R. Galabov-6 (79 J. Briffa), S. Bezzina-5.5, D. Mitev-5 (76 J. Ani), C. Frendo-6, J. Mifsud-5.5, R. Grech-6.5.

Floriana
M. Bartolo-7, M. Micallef-5, D. Pisani-5, P. Doffo-6, O. Bugeja-6, C. Borg-5, C. Cassar-5.5, J. Mintoff-5 (79 J. Borg), A. Grabowski-5, T. Paris-5 (62 I. Woods-6), R. Darmanin-4.5 (46 W. Risser-5).

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Yellow cards: Mifsud, Mitev, Cassar, Jackson Lima.

BOV Player of the match: Manuel Bartolo (Floriana).

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