Debutant Wescley hands Sliema Wanderers win over Marsaxlokk

MARSAXLOKK 0

SLIEMA WANDERERS 1

Wescley 9

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnjak, Jefferson, J. Ghio (58 K. Micallef), Y. Messias (74 P. Nonato), D. Bonniċi, J. Ulises, A. de Aguiar, M. Pena Beltre (58 K. Micallef), L. Aguirre, N. Raden, R. Scicluna.

SLIEMA WANDERERS

K. Emeka, J. Borg, A. Magri Overand (80 C. Attard), V. Plut (80 E. Agius), S. Da Mata (74 Serginho), M. Beerman, G. Alcino, Wescley (74 M. Awad), H. Murilo, S. Zibo, S. Pisani (85 N. Frendo).

Referee Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Jefferson, Ghio, Pisani.

Sliema Wanderers debutant Wescley took just nine minutes to decide the outcome of this match. That goal should have signalled the opening of the floodgates but both sides wasted their chances.

The Brazilian’s first goal handed Sliema victory over Marsaxlokk and sent the Blues back to the top of the Premier League, level on points with Birkirkara.

The pressure on Winston Muscat increased after his Marsaxlokk side lost their fourth consecutive game as the Southseasiders showed grit but lacked quality with Yuri Messias spurning a good chance.

Muscat rung the changes following their 2-0 defeat against Birkirkara when he named Karl Micallef and Nikolai Muscat as substitutes.

With the Premier League front-runners playing bottom, one-way traffic was to be expected, and the Blues broke the deadlock inside the first nine minutes. Adam Magri Overand put in a teasing cross that Wescley hit low behind Marko Drobnjak.

Increasingly, Sliema dominated possession and after 15 minutes, it needed a smart save from Drobnjak to keep out a free-kick by Steve Pisani.

With Marsaxlokk’s defence continuing to look leaky, Myles Beerman was left in acres of space on the left side, he crossed to Wescley, who could not keep the shot down and hit over the bar in front of a gaping net.

The same pattern of play resumed at the start of the second half but the first opening fell to Marsaxlokk. Yuri Messias shot straight at Kelvin Emeka after a promising move.

Muscat brought on Patrick Nonato as the Southseasiders pressed on after the break. The Brazilian striker was blocked by the onrushing Emeka as it looked like the decisive touch would never arrive.

Paul Zammit inserted Edmond Agius and Neil Frendo for Vito Plut and Pisani respectively to try and wrap up the points but Marsaxlokk could not muster a reply.

Sliema sat on their lead and comfortably held out for the win. The Blues made it three wins out of four without conceding a goal.