Watch: Ten-man Sliema Wanderers ease past Mosta to kickstart league campaign in style

SLIEMA WANDERERS 2

Plut 53, Serginho 90

MOSTA 0

SLIEMA Wanderers

K. Agu, N Frendo, A. Magri Overand (71 C. Attard), V. Plut (71 S. da Mata), M. Beerman, G. Alcino, H. Freire, G. Acheampong, S. Zibo, S. Pisani, J. Bastos (81 Serginho)

MOSTA

D. Akpan, T. Tegwi (65 J Ayi), S. Cachia (65 J. Babatola), R. Rosa da Silva, C. Failla (79 S. Chiemezie), N. Agius (88 S. Mintoff), J. Teixeira, J. Vassallo, Z. Brincat, C, Machado, L. Joaquim.

Referee Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Acheampong, Freire, Teixeira

Red cards: Acheampong (S) 46, Akpan (M) 87.

The much-changed Sliema Wanderers made a winning Premier League start to build on their positive performance in the Summer Cup.

The Blues cruised to a comfortable win over lacklustre Mosta albeit playing an entire half with ten men. Ironically, Paul Zammit’s troops broke the impasse when they went a man down with the dismissal of Geoffrey Acheampong.

Mosta grafted hard but lacked a cutting edge up front and their chances of recovery were all but ended when goalkeeper David Akpan was sent off for bringing down Neil Frendo late in the second half. Substitute Serginho confirmed victory for Sliema with a late second goal.

Sliema were the quicker to find their stride and Mosta survived an early scare inside the first seven minutes when Steve Pisani found Vito Plut who used his trickery to help him get past Jake Vassallo but shot high over the bar.

It took Sliema 23 minutes to turn their superiority into another clear-cut chance with Pisani hitting a rising shot which was turned around by Akpan.

Sliema started the second half on wrong footing when a nervous Acheampong was sent off. The Ghanaian midfielder, already on a yellow card, hauled down Luca and was shown a second card by referee Fyodor Zammit.

Yet Sliema who had already threatened in this first half, sprung out of defence brilliantly to break the deadlock seven minutes later.

Jonata Bastos’ cross from the right was met by Plut as Victor Teixeira was late to block on the Slovenian striker who thundered a finish past Akpan.

Mosta coach Mario Muscat made a double change with 25 minutes left, sending on Jerri Ayi and Julius Babatola for Sacha Cachia and Thomas Shedrack. Yet Sliema continued to pose greater threat.

Substitute Samuel da Mata should have doubled Sliema’s advantage after 72 minutes. Bastos was creator again, sending the Brazilian clear, but he delayed and Akpan saved smartly.

But Mosta’s revival was derailed when Akpan was shown a straight red card, three minutes from time as he stuck out a foot to bring down an onrushing Neil Frendo. And it was no surprise when Sliema added a second goal.

It was da Mata who set up his side’s second goal, controlling Kelvin Agu’s long punt, thundering down the right wing, before serving the ball to compatriot Serginho with a beautiful backheel to confirm victory for the Wanderers.