Substitute Ameli sinks gallant Saints

Henry Brincat A 74th minute strike from substitute Kilan Ameli gave Sliema all the three points in a balanced match.

The result was a setback for the Saints’ hopes in their efforts to stave off relegation as they remain one point behind 11th placed Tarxien in the standings. On the other hand, Sliema have now joined Hibernians on the 36-point mark, though the latter have today’s match against Valletta in hand.

The Saints certainly deserved something better after sharing the exchanges in the first half and creating the better chances on the changeover, before Sliema eventually scored the all-important goal somewhat surprisingly.

But overall, Sliema were the better team playing the more methodical football apart from exercising some territorial superiority.

The first half was more or less balanced with Sliema, perhaps, enjoying slightly more possession.

The Blues showed more urgency in their play, but they rarely trou- bled the St Andrews defence, which rarely committed a mistake.

The Saints, threatened by relegation, played with great determination and also had their own good moments, going close to scoring through a great effort from Azian who had a shot hitting the crossbar.

In the second half, the Saints improved considerably and even created the better chances before Sliema netted what proved to be the winner.

Right from the very first whistle, St Andrews goalie Calleja Cremona was already in action saving a header from Edmond Agius who received a good cross from Sansone.

The Saints replied on 13 minutes when from a Reid low cross, Gomez shot wide from the edge of the area.

In the 18th minute, as Sliema continued to enjoy more possession, a Muchardi shot was deviated onto the St Andrews crossbar by a de- fender.

On 31 minutes, J. Farrugia had a freekick going just over the crossbar. At the other end, on 39 minutes, Calleja Cremona saved a Correa freekick in two attempts.

St Andrews were very unlucky not to have scored in the 40th minute when Azian took a loose ball outside the area and fired a great shot on the turn, only to see the ball hitting the crossbar with Zammit beaten.

Soon after the start of the second half, Kurt Shaw avoided an awkward situation for Sliema as he blocked an Azian shot. And on the 48th minute, it was Kemar Reid who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar.

The Saints were now playing better and from a Farrugia corner, it was van de Lannoite who tested Sliema goalie Zammit with a header which the latter saved confidently.

On the hour, it was again Reid who had a good effort from 20 metres well saved by the diving Zammit.

Sliema took the lead on the 74th minute, when substitute Kilan Ameli hit home past a surprised Calleja Cremona from the far edge of the area.

The Saints tried hard to get back on level terms, but they never went close to getting an equaliser. Balzan Valletta Birkirkara Gzira Floriana Hibernians Sliema W. Hamrun R. Senglea A. Mosta Tarxien St. Andrews Naxxar Lions Lija Athletic PW D L F A Pts 22 14 7 1 37 14 49 21 13 6 2 31 8 45 22 13 2 7 36 21 41 21 11 6 4 38 26 39 22 10 8 4 37 13 38 21 10 6 5 29 11 36 22 10 6 6 29 19 36 22 10 4 8 34 22 34 22 6 5 11 22 36 23 21 6 5 10 22 38 23 22 5 3 14 28 50 18 22 4 5 13 18 39 17 22 3 7 12 22 37 16 22 1 2 19 19 68 5