Sliema finish campaign on a positive note
Sliema Wanderers finished the league campaign on a positive note yesterday as they deservedly beat Balzan by the odd goal in three.
Strikes from Denni dos Santos and Gabriel Aquilina gave them a healthy 2-0 lead at the end of the first half. Alfred Effiong scored Balzan’s goal in the 71st minute.
The match had little or no significance for both sides.
In fact, Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri fielded a depleted side at the start as they were assured of their runner-up placing earlier.
On the other hand, Sliema coach John Buttigieg fielded a fullyfledged formation, of course, in preparation for the FA Trophy semifinals - the Wanderers are now basing all their hopes of a European berth by winning that competition.
The Wanderers were clearly the better side with veteran Denni dos Santos in control of midfield, spraying intelligent passes to his team-mates.
Had it not been for the excellent Christian Cassar between the Balzan posts, their 2-0 margin would have been bigger.
Balzan were in a different street and at times struggled to get going. In fact, it was only near the end of the first half that they produced two good scoring opportunities, though both were missed.
In the second half, they showed some improvement with the introduction of midfielder Paul Fenech and strikers Kaljevic and Piciollo, but it was only after Sliema missed a couple of good opportunities that they pulled a goal back which was not enough to give them a win in their final match of the season.
Balzan had the first opportunity in the 5th minute but Paul Lapira’s effort went over the bar.
In the 16th minute, Sliema went very close to taking the lead. It was Dennis dos Santos who set Jean Paul Farrugia in the area, but the latter’s effort was blocked by the onrushing Christian Cassar. The ball ran out kindly to Frank Temile, but his goalbound effort was miraculously saved by Cassar – two great saves in the space of a few seconds.
Sliema took the lead in the 19th minute. It was a fine pass from Temile which set Jean Paul Farrugia in front of Cassar. The goalie this time could only touch the ball on its way to goal with Denni dos Santos adding the finishing touch before the ball crossed the line.
On 26 minutes, Correa sent in a very dangerous cross in the Balzan goalmouth, but a defender managed to clear in extremis before Farrugia could conclude.
In the 33rd minute, it was 2-0 as Correa received a good ball on the left flank and advanced to cross low. Cassar could not hold the ball and Gabriel Aquilina was on hand to fire home from near the goalline.
Balzan were denied a goal on 39 minutes, when Sarao dived sideways to turn to corner in style a Ryan Fenech humdinger.
Soon after, it was Lepovic who provided Lapira with a good opportunity, but the latter miskicked the ball in front of goal.
In the 55th minute, Sliema almost added a third when Alex Muscat had a fine volley hitting the crossbar with Cassar beaten.
In the 70th minute, Correa brought the best out of Cassar who produced an excellent save to turn to corner in style.
Moments later, Temile then missed a sitter for the Blues who paid dearly for this lapse as Balzan pulled one back immediately afterwards. From a Piciollo cross, Kaljevic’s header was only partially saved by Sarao and Effiong
Sliema W.: G. Sarao, A. Muscat, JP Farrugia, D. Dos Santos (R. Spiteri), P. Xuereb, M. Muchiardi, S. Bianciardi, R. Correa, M. Potezica, G. Aquilina, F. Temile (J. Mintoff)
Balzan: C. Cassar, R. Fenech, A. Samir, L. Micallef (M. Piciollo), S. Cipriott, C. Brincat, M. Lepovic (P. Fenech), A. Effiong, P. Lapira (B. Kaljevic), A. Da Silva Souza, E. Serrano Valero Referee: E. Grech Asst refs: D. Sultana, R. Aquilina 4th official: A. Johnson Scorers: D. Dos Santos, G. Aquilina, A. Effiong
Yellow cards: M. Lepovic, E. Serrano Valero, S. Arab, C. Cipriott Player of the match: R. Correa TMI Top 3: 1. R. Correa, 2. D. Dos Santos, 3. C. Cassar
was on hand to plant the ball into the net.