The Malta Independent on Sunday
Sliema suffer from lack of cutting edge
Football - BOV Premier League
Messias for Naxxar’s leveller in the second half.
The Wanderers were depleted in attack with the absences of both De Assis and Milinceanu. Frank Temile was their most advanced man yesterday, with Frenci Qeros creating openings in an advanced midfield role behind him.
Naxxar could only show one win, in the derby against Mosta, from their last six matches but drew some comfort with their goalless draw against Balzan before the break.
This point, which lifts them above St Andrews, was just reward for their organisation and industry.
The Lions had a changed look about them, going into the new year. Yesterday’s starting lineup inlcuded four new Brazilians, central defenders Rafael Caetano and Rafael Souza Duarte, as well as forwards Jean Moser and Rodrigo Da Costa.
Sliema made the breakthrough after only ten minutes play. The Naxxar keeper Nicht only parried Correa’s shot from a distance and Mark Scerri was quick to hit in the loose ball.
Other than that, there wer few moments of quality in the first half, with Sansone going close with his header midway through the half.
With Sliema holding on to possession without much fuss, there was no sign of menace from their opponents until the 33rd minute when Moser pounced on a Micallef cross inside the Sliema area but his effort rebounded off the foot of the post, before being cleared to safety.
Sliema became sloppy as halftime approached. But a Da Costa direct free kick ended straight in Zammit’s safe hands. The Wanderers were still in the lead at the break, not necessarily by their own brilliance but more due to Naxxar’s inadequancies.
And when the Wanderers failed to push forward for a second goal in the second half, the Lions were allowed to claw themselves back in the game with an equaliser on 67 minutes.
That came courtesy of a Yuri Messias individual strike as he surprised Sliema keeper Zammit with a blistering shot from a distance. As they grew in confidence, Souza Duarte tested the Sliema custodian with another shot, following a corner.
Sliema introduced Peter Xuereb and Ryan Spiteri but failed to trouble Naxxar’s organised backline. The final minutes were frantically sloppy, with enough desperation to win from both sides but not enough quality to carry through on such intent.
Moser caused moments of anxiety. Four minutes from the end, his glancing header flashed across the face of the Sliema goal but was deflected into a corner. And in added time his low drive only missed the target by a whisker.