Vukovic’s late goal secures point for Wanderers

SIRENS 2

Vieira 76, Brandan 80

SLIEMA WANDERERS 2

Elouni 47, Vukovic 88

Sirens

J. Debono-6, A. Bianco-6, R. Tachikawa-6.5, V. Vieira-6 (89 B. Gavrila), A. Effiong-5 (65C. Zammit Lonardelli), D. Albanese-6.5, A. Borg-6, J. Walker-5, F. Brandan-7, C. Riascos-5 (65 D. Jackson-5), K. Reid-6.

Sliema WANDERERS

D. Cassar-6.5, K. Shaw-6, O. Elouni-6, D. Holla-6.5 (72 E. Agius) ,V. Berisha-6 ( 72 R. Kohna Sooh), G. Aquilina-6, Y. Uchida-6 (80 P. Morales), I. Gui-5.5, M. Beerman-6, J. Bilek-6.5, D. Vukovic-6.

Referee Ishmael Barbara.

Yellow cards: Walker, Albanese, Uchida, Zammit Lonardelli.

BOV player of the match: Kurt Shaw (Sliema Wanderers).

Sirens and Sliema had to settle for a point apiece after a cracking game.

The Wanderers went ahead when Omar Elouni prodded the ball home just after the break.

But when Sliema appeared to be heading for a vital first win of the season, Sirens turned the game on its head but Sliema struck back when Dejan Vukovic headed the equaliser two minutes from the end.

Both sides tried hard to be neat and precise in their build-up, but two well-marshalled defences brought proceedings to a halt on the edge of either area.

After 20 minutes, Sliema were almost caught out when a long punt into their half, prompted David Cassar to rush off his line to block Vitor Vieira. Cassar was making his first appearance of the season after Andrea Pisanu rotated his goalkeepers, dropping Timothy Aquilina to the bench.

A set-piece provided the first opening for Sliema, with Danny Holla whipping a free-kick from left which brought the best out of Jonathan Debono, the Sirens goalkeeper.

On 42 minutes, Kemar Reid showed his pace down the right, when he brushed off three defenders as he ran the length of the pitch before delivering a cross to Vieira but Cassar denied him with a sharp save.

More chances for Sirens followed with Rei Tachikawa creating space for himself in the box and going close with a driven shot that almost flew in the top corner.

Sliema offered little in the opening period but within minutes after the restart, they found themselves ahead.

Holla floated a delightful ball into the box as Kurt Shaw rose highest. Debono parried his header but Elouni was on hand to fire in the rebound.

Sliema appeared to be heading for a vital first win of the season but on 72 minutes, Shaw had a close escape when he deflected a skidding cross onto the bar. But the reprieve was temporarily as Vieira hit a rising shot behind Cassar.

Five minutes later, the tireless Fernando Brandan shot home from  Degran Jackson’s peach of a pass to send the Sirens supporters into raptures.

But Sliema were not be denied as Vukovic headed home Myles Beerman’s perfect cross to grab the equaliser.