The Malta Independent on Sunday
Wanderers get started
Birkirkara’s reinvention under coach Peter Pullicino was always going to take time but it appears that, in the short term at least, their supporters’ patience is going to be severely tested.
After a draw against Floriana in the opening fixture, the Stripes yesterday were defeated by a highly efficient Gzira side with ten men for almost a whole half hour, produced some serious threat to the Sliema rearguard in the rare openings they had and apart from Messias’ goal, they were twice denied by the woodwork.
Following defeat in their opening game, Naxxar dropped Francesco Serafino and Joel Ellul for yesterday’s game. Coach Dennis Fenech handed starts to Brazilian Yuri Messias and Ryan Grech.
Incidentally the match’s first chance fell to Naxxar. After only five minutes play, the Lions broke away and Messias, running clear inside the Sliema half, hit a powerful shot that demanded a smart save from keeper Sarao to turn the ball into a corner.
But most of the action was at the other end.
With the excellent Scerri, Xuereb and Aquilina impressing in central midfield, Sliema were the better side although it required defensive lapses by Naxxar for them to take an early double lead.
After eight minutes, some hesitation between defender Botta and his keeper, allowed Frank Temile to sneak in and score.
Hardly four minutes later. Naxxar failed to clear their lines on a Mintoff cross from the right and as the ball bounced invitingly inside their area, Ryan Spiteri headed it past keeper Borg.
That double lead put the Wanderers in the driving seat and although they remained menacing with efforts from Scerri and Temile, they were settling into something approaching a rhythmic passing groove by halftime.
However Naxxar, who had been struggling with their pace, were handed a lifeline five minutes before the break, thanks to a well executed Yuri Messias direct free kick, from wide on the left, that beat keeper Sarao.
Matias Muchardi took Mintoff’s place for Sliema for the second half, but Naxxar looked to respond well. On 54 minutes they even went close to drawing level when Buhagiar ran down the right flank and his low cross was met by Falzon who flicked the ball against the foot of the post.
Frustration nearly became despair for Naxxar one minute later, when reduced to ten men. Their central defender Lo was shown a straight red card for his reckless tackle on Temile.
Sliema needed to be more ruthless in search of that reassuring third goal. And after keeper Borg saved a low Aquilina effort, Frank Temile found an opening inside the Naxxar area on the left and hit an unstoppable strike that left keeper Borg clasping thin air.
Naxxar again hit the post from substitute Jurgen Debono on 70 minutes but the Wanderers stayed in control and even scored two late goals through defender Alex Muscat, after advancing down the right, and another by Peter Xuereb from a Spiteri corner. Gzira Hibernians Valletta Floriana Sliema Hamrun Balzan Mosta St. Andrews Senglea As Birkirkara Lija Athletic Naxxar Lions Tarxien PW D 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 L 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 F A Pts 6 0 6 5 0 6 2 0 6 6 1 4 7 3 4 4 2 3 4 3 3 3 2 3 3 6 3 2 3 1 1 3 1 1 7 0 1 7 0 1 9 0