Sliema Wanderers all but kill off Gżira’s title hopes

SLIEMA WANDERERS 2

Cisotti 37; Satariano 45

GŻIRA UNITED              0

Sliema Wanderers

J. Galea-6.5, A. Satariano-7, K. Shaw-7, A. Milesi-6.5, J. Cisotti-7.5 (89 J. Mintoff), Denilson-6, D. Holla-7 (79 M. Sansone), G. Aquilina-6, R. Kakinuma-6 (90 J. Kind), J. Barbosa-6.5 (79 M. Beerman), D. Vukovic-6.5.

Gżira United

A. Haber-5.5, G. Mentz-6, Steve Borg-6 (76 K. Pulo), N. Muscat-6, S. Pisani-6 (68 F. Pinheyro), D. Xuereb-6, M. Davis-5 (55 N. Portelli), R. Correa-6, Sacha Borg-6, B. Atajic-5 (76 A. Cohen), Jefferson-5.

Referee Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Sacha Borg, Jefferson, Muscat, Mintoff, Portelli.

BOV Player of the match Alex Satariano (Sliema Wanderers).

Gżira United’s title hopes were all but ended when the Maroons were outclassed by Sliema Wanderers 2-0 in the derby at the National Stadium.

First-half goals from Juri Cisotti and Alex Satariano did the trick for the Wanderers who were in control right from the outset and never let Gżira United get into the match to secure a vital victory that keeps alive their hopes of a top-four finish.

In fact, the Wanderers have now moved to the 40-point mark, four adrift of fourth-placed Birkirkara.

On the other hand, Gżira United remained in third place on 46 points but are now just two points ahead of the resurgent Birkirkara while they now trail runaway leaders Ħamrun Spartans by seven points.

Sliema Wanderers started brightly and after ten minutes of play Alex Satariano hit a thumping drive that was pushed away by Gżira goalkeeper Justin Haber.

Three minutes later, the Gżira no. 1 was again alert to keep out Denilson’s headed effort following a Danny Holla free-kick.

On 18 minutes, Sliema came close when Juri Cisotti’s low shot was somehow kept out by Haber and from the rebound Satariano was anticipated by Gabriel Mentz before he could stab the ball into the net.

Sliema’s positive play was rewarded with an opener on 37 minutes. Dejan Vukovic ran clear in the right channel and pulled the ball back towards Cisotti who blasted the ball past Haber.

The Wanderers struck again on the stroke of half-time when Satariano’s cross-shot was misjudged by Haber with the ball finishing into the net with the aid of the upright.

On 56 minutes, Gżira thought they were back into the match when Jefferson slid the ball past Jake Galea but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.

Sliema were now in firm control with Gżira struggling to create any sort of danger to the Sliema goal.

Four minutes from time, Sliema came close to add a third goal when Cisotti served Michele Sansone but his shot was too central to trouble Haber.

Gżira finally threatened in time added on when substitute Andrew Cohen hit a firm low drive that was pushed away by Jake Galea as Sliema cruised to victory.