Goalless draw not desired result for both teams
Sliema Wanderers and Senglea Athletic took a point each from an encounter which never came to life. In the end it was a fair result since neither team set any bushes on fire.
Both teams went into this match desperate for the maximum points. The Blues wanted the win in order to climb up the ladder into 4th place and leapfrog Hamrun Spartans.
Even for their opponents Senglea, this was a must win match since the three points would finally save their status – a practically footballing miracle after a disastrous first round by the Cottonera outfit.
Senglea who had Augusto Caseres missing through suspension were coming from a win against St. Andrew’s and two draws against Tarxien Rainbows and Hamrun Spartans. And Sliema after succumbing to a last ditch defeat against Birkirkara returned to winning ways last week defeating Qormi by the odd goal in five.
In the first round Sliema emerged worthy winners by a 2-0 scoreline.
Senglea held the initiative in the first 45 minutes but never really threatened. In fact the Blues rearguard blocked all that came their way preventing Aquilina from being tested. His counterpart Farrugia was also a non paying spectator in the first half.
In the 26th minute a Younes Marzouk free kick from just outside the area missed the target.
Senglea responded nine minutes from the break when Marukawa made his way into the opposing area and after dribbling round Biancardi, Shaw and also goalkeeper Aquilina saw his shot hit the side netting.
The second half was played on the same pattern of the first 45 minutes. The first threat came just past the hour when off a Venancio corner a headed effort by Romulo just scraped Sliema’s goal.
And in the 69th minute a Marzouk free kick was cleared just outside the area with Claudio Pani trying an acrobatic shot which was blocked by the Senglea defence. On 77 minutes off a Sliema counter attack Marzouk squared towards Varela only for the latter’s shot to sail just over the bar.
Senglea replied a few seconds later through a Garcia grounder which was saved by Aquilina. Five minutes from the end a Venancio free kick from the edge of the area missed the target by inches.
In added time, Sliema could have grabbed a dramatic win first when off a Mintoff pass Muscat’s shot was blocked by the Senglea goalkeeper. And moments later a Marzouk shot on the run was deflected into a corner.