Sliema Wanderers 3 Muchardi 47; Ohawuchi 48; Muscat 56;
Balzan FC 2 Darmanin 51; Elton 79
Sliema Wanderers found their scoring touch in the second half to end the first round of the premier league on a high note today. Sliema had the three points
sewn up after 56 minutes when they struck three goals in the opening 11 minutes.
Balzan made an energetic start. Aboulezz tested waters with an angled drive
that posed no trouble to Abela.
On 21 minutes, Zammit guided a through-pass to Ruggiero but Martinez was alert to the danger. On the other side, Elton was wide with a curling free kick.Yet, Sliema remained the more purposeful side, exploiting the pace of their wingers to break forward. After 38 minutes, Ruggiero sent in a teasing cross into the box and Zammit slipped his marker but failed to get a decent connection with the ball.
As the Wanderers laboured for creativity, at half-time, Greco withdrew Ruggiero and brought on new recruit Stanley Ohaauwchi who took up an attacking role.
After the interval, Sliema raised their game and immediately forced a breakthrough.
Alex Muscat who orchestrated the best moments for Sliema, served Muchardi
as he arrowed a shot on the turn into the top left corner. Daniel Martinez’s goal
was breached again one minute later when Ohawuchi’s dazzling skills were inabundant evidence as his polished footwork ran the Balzan ragged before beating the goalkeeper with a low shot.
Balzan pulled a goal back on 51 minutes when Darmanin who broke free in the box from the right and beat Abela with a low shot.But Sliema stayed in control.
After 55 minutes, Woods sent a teasing ball into the area where Muscat showed great coordination to control the ball and sent a fierce shot behind Martinez.
Ten minutes from time, Elton reduced the deficit to one goal when the Brazilian
striker made a surging run into the Sliema to hammer a diagonal shot behind
Abela following Aaron Agius’s exquisite delivery.
In stoppage time, Muciardi’s raking cross-shot from the right flashed past the
far post with Ohawuchi arriving late to make contact with the ball as Greco’s
men ended the game in attacking mode.