Sliema add some gloss in added time
Sliema Wanderers are on the ascendancy as they keep themsleves well geared for the remaining commitments in the FA Trophy. They beat ‘old firm’ rivals Floriana 3-0 yesterday with two goals in four minutes of added time.
There comes a point in the season when intrigue and interest for the many sides involved neither in the title chase nor in the relegation scrap starts to fade.
In this match there was mainly pride at stake.
But although both teams’ only interest is now in the FA Trophy, this match offered some interesting twists, with two players sent off in a Sliema win made more emphatic with two late goals in added time.
This was the third time the Wanderers beat the Greens this season.
This defeat, their third in six games leaves Floriana five points behind Birkirkara, while Sliema remain unbeaten in their last six matces.
Floriana had keeper Justin Haber and midfielder Steve Pisani back in the side after suspension.
Sliema also had striker Jean Paul Farrugia back and coach John Buttigieg also gave a start to defender Leonardo Incorvaia. Ryan Spiteri and John Mintoff made way.
After a quite 20 opening minutes, Sliema had a goal disallowed. Floriana keeper Haber dropped Duarte’s high cross from the left but when Scerri netted, he was deemed to be in an offside position.
Soon after, Floriana were down to ten men. Ryan Camenzuli was sent off for a reckless foul, with his extended foot aimed at Farrugia’s chest.
With an extra man on the field, the Wanderers started to exert some dominance. A Temile shot missed the target on 38 minutes, before Sliema finally broke the deadlock two minutes before halftime. Muscat opened play on the right for Temile to deliver a deep cross. The ball was deflected by a Floriana defender and fell invitingly to Mark Scerri to stab it in from close range.
Floriana replaced Chiesa with Andre Scicluna at halftime. From the latter’s cross, Varela headed slightly over.
Floriana threatened sporadically on the break. Past the hour they were awarded a penalty when Fontanella was bundled by Xuereb inside the area. The Sliema player, who had gone in for Pearson only ten minutes earlier, was sent off.
Fontanella stepped to take the penalty but keeper Sarao dived the right way and saved.
With numerical parity restored, both teams continued to attack and defend with slapstick energy.
The quality then dipped. Passes went astray, punts were hoofed away and there were gaps in each team’s shape.
The game was evenly poised at this point but play remained scrappy and confused. Floriana might have deserved something for their efforts but the Greens ended up undone by Sliema’s two other goals within a minute in added time. First Denni ran inside the Floriana area, outpaced the goalkeeper and crossed for the unmolested Jean Paul Farrugia to head in.
Hardly a minute later, Sliema added some excessive gloss to their win with another goal scored in similar fashion. This time substitute Mintoff provided the cross from the right and Frank Temile duly obliged with another free header.