Citizens held to third consecutive draw

draw by Sliema Wanderers. It was the third consecutive draw for the citizens after having been held by lowly placed Balzan and Rabat in their previous matches. It seems as if the champions have forgotten the way to victory and they need to rebuild their confidence ahead of the second round. Following this victory Valletta have moved five points ahead of second placed Birkirkara and Sliema, but the Stripes have tomorrow’s match against Mosta in hand. In the first half, Valletta took an early lead and at first it seemed as if they would steamroll over their opponents. Sliema found it hard to move upfield, but when the goals failed to arrive, Sliema starting craving their way back into it. They covered miles and miles of ground, especially Muchardi and Ruggiero, but rarely appeared dangerous. Ironically, it was when their top striker Ivan Woods had to cry out injured that they got an equaliser just before the interval. In the second half, Valletta had a strong start, but Sliema still held on. Eventually, they started to share the exchanges with the citizens and even looked more dangerous in their swift counterattacks which Muchardi and Ruggiero launched from midfield. It was a keenly fought encounter in which Sliema never gave away an inch. At the back they were inspired by goalkeeper Henry Bonello. Though never tested him seriously before his great save late in the match, his interceptions were a delight to watch apart, of course, from instilling a lot of confidence in his team-mates. Yesterday, Valletta sadly missed the services of Michael Mifsud, Dyson Falzon and Steve Borg, while Sliema had Biancardi and Beppe Muscat missing. Valletta opened the score at their first attempt on the third minute. Fenech set Bajada on the left and the latter crossed perfectly for Barbosa to head home past a helpless Bonello. The citizens insisted on attack and on the eighth minute, Barbosa set Fenech beautifully in the area, but the midfielder lifted his lob well over Bonello and also over the bar. On 24 minutes, Bonello had to rush out of his charge to clear the ball away before Gabriel Da Silva could cause any damage. Immediately afterwards Valletta again went close and were also very unlucky as a Denni dos Santos effort hit the crossbar with Bonello beaten. Having overcome that opening onslaught, Sliema started fighting their way back and on 28 minutes, Ruggiero advanced on the left to see his shot palmed out by Bartolo. Woods, however, was on hand for the rebound but he skied his effort and a good chance for a Sliema equaliser went begging. On the 44th minute, it was again Barbosa who tried his luck for City, but his effort from the edge of the edge glanced just wide of the upright. Sliema equalised on the stroke of halftime. From a Muchardi cornerkick, it was Timotic who rose above friend and foe to beat Bartolo all ends up with a fine header. Valletta started the second half on attack but it was only in the 68th minute that they tested Bonello through a Dennis dos Santos header which the Sliema goalie saved with some difficulty. At the other end, Sliema’s Ruggiero advanced unhindered on the left flank but he insisted on a useless personal action which only produced a corner. Soon after a Ciantar cross was missed by Bartolo, but also by Mintoff. On 81 minutes, it was Decesare who had a long distance effort saved by Bartolo. In added time, Bonello became Sliema’s great saviour when he palmed out a very dangerous close range header from Ricardo Barreto after a cross from Shaun Bajada.