SLIEMA WANDERERS 2

Amehi 27

Varela 63

PIETA' HOTSPURS 1

Chimezie 65

Sliema Wanderers ended their season on a high after defeating Pieta' Hotspurs 2-1 to finish fifth at the Centenary Stadium, yesterday. 

The Blues entered this match with a slim chance of ending fourth and keep their European hopes alive but a late Ħamrun Spartans leveller against Valletta dashed their chances. 

Stefano Maccoppi’s team put one of their best displays of the season, despite numerous absences including Mark Scerri, Frank Temile and Younes Marzouk.

Pieta', on the other hand, were playing their final Premier League match of the season having already been relegated last week. 

Sliema made their intentions clear as they pushed numbers forward from the early stages of the game.

Inside the first five minutes of play, they already had created two clear-cut opportunities with Kllian Amehi proving to be Sliema’s main threat. On the third minute, Amehi had a shot from the edge of the area that ended wide while a minute later, he set up Matias Muchardi inside the penalty area but the latter sailed the ball over the bar. 

Maccoppi’s team continued to press and on the 10th minute, Ignacio Varela attempted a header towards after receiving from John Mintoff but could not find the target. 

The Argentine forward threatened again on minute 13 when he moved inside the penalty area but his shot was blocked by Jacob Chircop. 

The Blues made their pressure count on the 27th minute when Ryan Fenech and Amehi hit a wall-pass between each other that sent the latter in front of Chircop to slot the ball into the first post. 

Sliema almost doubled the score through Mintoff whose shot from tight angle struck the crossbar. 

After the change of ends, the Hotspurs were trying to stage a reaction but it was Sliema who continued to flex their muscles and their next chance came on the 56th minute through a Fenech shot which was blocked by Chircop. 

Past the hour mark, Christian Grech tried his luck from a free-kick but failed to hit the base of the net. 

However, it was Sliema that doubled their lead through Varela who after receiving from Amehi, he slotted the ball past the oncoming Chircop. 

Yet, the Hotspurs reduced the scoreline immediately after when Paul Chimezie received the ball inside the penalty area and blasted his effort past Timothy Aquilina. 

Kllian Amehi of Sliema Wanderers was named BOV Player of the Match.