Valletta1
Barbosa 2
Sliema Wanderers 1
Timotic 45
The heat was on Valletta yesterday as they headed into their clash with Sliema Wanderers. In the preceding two weeks, the champions had the odd experience of dropping points to unfancied teams after being held to similar 1-1 draws by Rabat Ajax and Balzan.
A paltry return of two points from two games was simply not enough for a team built to dominate the league, thus cranking up the pressure on Mark Miller and his troops to end their winless run in their final game of the first round.
When William Barbosa nodded Valletta in front after less than two minutes City thought that their luck was about to change but the flaws that marred the champions’ previous two outings came back to the fore as the in-form Blues hit back to gain a point.
This being Valletta’s third one-all stalemate in as many matches, it was inevitable that the post-match talk was on the leaders’ umpteenth failure to press home their much-vaunted technical supremacy. But to suggest that this last upset owed to another unconvincing performance by Miller’s team would be grossly unfair on Sliema.
The Wanderers have been on the upward trajectory this season and their progress under coach Alfonso Greco was there for all to see yesterday.
The result still left Valletta top with 25 points, five ahead of Sliema and Birkirkara but the Stripes have a game in hand.
The absence of Michael Mifsud prompted Miller to switch Barbosa to attack with Denni and Ryan Fenech on the wings. Midfielder Edmond Agius replaced Mifsud while Kurt Magro made way for the returning Ian Azzopardi.
Steve Borg was out with a knee injury and captain Roderick Briffa dropped to right-back with Agius sitting in front of defence.
Alain Faccini’s match-winning cameo in Sliema’s 2-1 win over Hamrun Spartans was not enough to earn him a place in the starting line-up. Not the same can be said of midfielder Paltemio Barbetti who was duly restored to the Wanderers’ team after serving his one-match ban.
Tactics-wise, Sliema lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Ivan Woods spearheading their attack and Luigi Ruggiero playing in the famed no.10 position.
Valletta tore out of the blocks, seizing the lead inside the opening two minutes. Shaun Bajada’s cross soared towards the far post and Barbosa directed a dipping header past Henry Bonello.
The champions had a gilt-edged chance to double their lead on eight minutes as Barbosa served Fenech who, having evaded Sliema’s offside ploy, lobbed the ball high with only Bonello to beat.
The Citizens’ early pressure receded as a good opening for Sliema, engineered by Woods, was fluffed by Ruggiero who took a touch too many.
The woodwork then came to Sliema’s rescue as Denni raced past Branislav Timotic before unleashing a rasping drive that ricocheted off the bar.
Danger beckoned for the Citizens when Agius overhit his pass to Denni who was dispossessed by Muchardi in midfield.
Making a quick transition from defence to attack, Muchardi glided past Jonathan Caruana before flicking the ball to Ruggiero whose effort was pushed away by alert keeper Manuel Bartolo.
This action not only highlighted Sliema’s counter-attacking threat, it was also a warning for Valletta who became somewhat casual and sloppy after their early breakthrough.
A thigh injury brought Woods’s outing to a premature end as he slumped to the turf in the centre circle after trying to play through the pain barrier.
Two minutes from half-time, Barbosa rifled wide at the end of a quick City raid that also involved Bajada and Denni.
For the third successive game, Valletta surrendered their lead as, on the cusp of half-time, Sliema levelled. Ricardo gave away a needless corner and Muchardi’s delivery from the right was met by Timotic who beat Bartolo with a downward header.
Miller spent most of the first half barking instructions to his players from the technical area. Valletta’s failure to hold on to their lead will have infuriated the coach who probably let rip at his players at the break.
Yet, the signs at the start of the second half were hardly encouraging as bookings for the erratic Ricardo and Agius, both for fouls in midfield, demonstrated Valletta’s troubles to find their rhythm.
Just past the hour, Miller brought on striker Leandro for Gabriel and Barbosa reverted to midfield.
Valletta had to wait until the 67th minute to pose a danger to Sliema as Fenech’s cross from the right was deflected towards the far post but Denni’s header was stopped by Bonello.
In next to no time, Sliema had broken forward on the counter. Ruggiero burst clear on the right before cutting into the box where his run was halted by Ricardo.
Sliema’s penchant to attack down the wings was giving Valletta a torrid time.
On one occasion, Ciantar ran clear on the left before floating a dangerous cross that eluded the fumbling Bartolo and Mintoff.
Referee Malcolm Spiteri turned down Valletta’s tame claims for a penalty after Leandro went down under the challenge of Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
With the score tied at 1-1 as the game entered the final 10 minutes, Valletta tried to infuse a modicum of intensity into their game.
Ricardo failed to make contact after Fenech guided the ball into the Brazilian’s path from a corner.
In the closing stages, Bonello blocked Fenech’s first-time effort. Moments later, Gatt Baldacchino conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position after he hauled down Leandro. Barbosa’s effort glanced off Sliema’s wall.
Valletta thought they had sneaked a late winner when Bajada’s excellent cross from the byline flew towards the unmarked Ricardo but the latter’s point-blank header was kept out superbly by keeper Bonello.
At the other end, Sliema also threatened to clinch victory when Barbetti’s shot was deflected towards Mark Scerri but the latter’s header was stopped by Bartolo.
This came after substitute Magro had saved Valletta from a dangerous situation with a last-ditch tackle on the goalbound Ruggiero.
Valletta: M. Bartolo-6, Ricardo-5, W. Barbosa-6.5, R. Fenech-5.5, Gabriel-4 (62 Leandro-5), Denni-6.5, S. Bajada-6.5, R. Briffa-4, J. Caruana-5, E. Agius-5 (76 K. Magro), I. Azzopardi-6.
Sliema Wanderers: H. Bonello-7, A. Muscat-6, L. Martinelli-5 (46 A. Decesare-6), B. Timotic-6.5, P. Barbetti-7, J. Mintoff-6.5 (90 J. Mifsud), M. Scerri-7, L. Ruggiero-7.5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6.5, I. Woods-6 (42 M. Ciantar-7), M. Muchardi-7.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Yellow cards: Ruggiero; Ciantar; Ricardo; Agius; Mintoff; Timotic; Decesare; Fenech; Gatt Baldacchino.
BOV player of the match: Luigi Ruggiero (Sliema Wanderers).
Attendance: 1,041.
Salinas set for debut, Greens sign Brazilian striker
Melita vs Floriana (today at 14.00, Hibs Stadium).
Francisco Salinas Fernández will make his debut as Melita coach this afternoon.
Salinas, who enjoyed a long career as a professional player with Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo, and also earned two caps for Spain, has taken over from Martin Gregory who stepped down after the 5-0 upset to Mosta left them in the drop zone.
As Salinas took charge of his first training session on Thursday, he’s not expected to make big changes to the team.
Michael Martin is doubtful but otherwise, Melita are at full strength.
Floriana are coming from three straight defeats with coach Stephen Azzopardi still looking for his first positive result since taking up the reins of the team.
The Greens have signed a Brazilian forward, 20-year-old Igor Coronado, to boost their attacking options following the departures of Sunday Wasiu and Francis Jeffers.
Coronado, who has come through the youth ranks of League One club MK Dons, should assuage Azzopardi’s selection problems as various Floriana players are out with injuries or suspension.
Valdo Alhinho and Kane Farrugia will serve a one-match ban while Trevor Cilia, Owen Bugeja and Carl Tremarco are injured. Forward Ryan Darmanin is also ranked as doubtful.
Hibernians vs Ħamrun Spartans (today at 16.00, Hibs Stadium).
Hibs will be looking to stay on the winning trail after ending a four-match winless run with a 1-0 defeat of Floriana last weekend.
For their part, Ħamrun will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 upset to Sliema, the Reds’ first defeat in five games.
Marcelo Dias, Hibs’ powerful winger, is out after receiving a one-match ban while youngsters Steve Pisani (knee) and Johann Bezzina (flu) will also miss out. On the positive side, Jonathan Pearson is set to make his comeback after a long lay-off.
Having identified the need to strengthen their forward line, the Paolites are expected to give a trial to a Brazilian striker in the coming days.
Bulgarian midfielder Ljubomir Vitanov is suspended for the Spartans but otherwise, coach Stefan Sultana has a full squad at his disposal.
Qormi vs Tarxien Rainbows (tomorrow at 14.00, Tedesco Stadium).
Tarxien are brimming with confidence after gaining 10 points from their last four games.
As for Qormi, they are still stuck in the bottom part of the table but their last-gasp equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Birkirkara ought to have given Jesmond Zerafa’s team a much-needed psychological tonic.
Daniel Mariano Bueno, Tarxien’s forward, has a slight back injury but he’s expected to recover in time to face Qormi.
Tarxien coach Clive Mizzi welcomes Evaldo back from suspension and Carlo Mamo is also set to return from injury.
Qormi coach Zerafa will be without Joseph Chetcuti, suspended, while midfielder Tristan Caruana is in the final stages of his rehabilitation after knee surgery.
Mosta vs Birkirkara (tomorrow at 16.15, Tedesco Stadium).
Only one point separates Birkirkara and Mosta before this clash.
The two are expected to go all out for points and consolidate their position in the upper section of the table.
Birkirkara, who failed to take advantage of Valletta’s 1-1 draw with Balzan last week after being held by Qormi, have a host of key players missing.
Edward Herrera begins his two-match ban, captain Gareth Sciberras is also suspended and Shola Shodiya Haruna is injured.
Brazilian forward Joselito is recovering from ankle trouble but Zach Muscat is avail-able after seeing out his one-match ban.
Mosta, who thrashed Melita 5-0 last week, have no selection problems as international defender Luke Dimech is back from suspension.