Balzan lose primacy after Sliema defeat
Sliema Wanderers have the habit of producing their best against the top teams.
Their win against Floriana three weeks ago made headlines and yesterday’s beating of Balzan was no less important as it lifts them in sixth place in the standings and deprived their opponents of the league’s primacy at the end of the second round.
Unimpressive Balzan were doomed to defeat, after an unbeaten streak of seven league matches, and were on the backfoot by the time Jean Paul Farrugia had put Sliema in front.
Balzan equalised through Bojan Kaljevic soon after the restart, but were unable to build on that and Sliema struck the fatal blow in the late stages through substitute Ryan Spiteri.
It spoke volumes that both goalkeepers were not required to make a serious save until Sliema, who had earlier gone close with a Correa glancing header, broke the deadlock on 37 minutes. Muscat played a long ball forward for Temile to chase and advance from the right, avoiding the onrushing keeper Cassar and cross low towards the middle for Jean Paul Farrugia to hit in.
Sliema regressed to bad habits and retreated deep after the restart, handing their opponents the initiative.
On 48 minutes keeper Sarao held out Ryan Fenech’s free kick from the right.
Alan Souza’s wily movement and rapid changes of pace, should have reminded the Sliema defence that they ignored him at their peril. On 52 minutes Souza whipped in a cross from the right and Bojan Klajevic rose high to head past the keeper at the far post to level matters.
Sensing that they needed to win, Balzan effected a double substitution on 72 minutes, introducing Anderson De Barros and Lydon Micallef.
Six minutes later, Effiong threatened when he found space on an inviting bouncing ball, and forced keeper Sarao into a difficult save, turning his close shot into a corner.
Ryan Fenech’s shot from a distance went wide as Sliema were living dangerously at the back.
But, with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Correa took advantage of Balzan’s lack of focus and static defending as he persisted inside the Balzan six-yard box before playing the ball low for substitute Ryan Spiteri to connect and shoot past the helpless keeper Cassar.
Standings
Hibernians Balzan Valletta Floriana Birkirkara Sliema Tarxien Hamrun St. Andrews Gzira Pembroke Mosta P W D L F APts 22 14 4 4 35 19 46 22 13 6 3 40 25 45 22 11 8 3 31 16 41 22 11 6 5 39 24 39 22 11 4 7 41 21 37 22 9 4 9 28 27 31 22 7 8 7 31 29 29 22 8 2 12 32 40 26 22 5 7 10 25 34 22 22 5 4 13 23 37 19 22 4 5 13 25 46 17 22 3 4 15 13 45 13