Murilo’s last-gasp penalty saves ten-man Sliema Wanderers against Melita

SLIEMA WANDERERS 2

Da Mata Gomes 33; Murilo 90 pen

MELITA 2

Cutajar 47

Andre 50

SLIEMA WANDERERS

K. Agu, J. Borg, A. Magri Overend (85 C. Attard), V. Plut (85 Wescley), S. Da Mata Gomes (70 Jonata), M. Beerman, G. Alcino (90 N. Frendo), H. Murilo, S. Zibo (90 Strickland), S. Pisani, M. Awad.

MELITA

G. Mizzi, J.P. Attard, K. Mohnani, Andre (88 M. Cachia), M. Debattista, M. Van De Font Bovenkamp, B. Cassar (46 J. Yepes), N. Cutajar (68 D. Xuereb), K. Bondin (82 Clarke), G. Barone, H. Motta.

Referee: Daniel Portelli

Yellow cards: Motta, Alcino, Murilo.

Red card: Beerman (S) 30.                                 

Ten-man Sliema Wanderers scored a dramatic last-gasp equaliser to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw against Melita.

Henri Murilo netted a 97th minute penalty to ensure the Wanderers preserved their unbeaten record in the 360 Sports Malta Premier.

But the Blues, who had Myles Beerman dismissed in the first half, can feel somewhat relieved not to suffer a stunning defeat against a Melita side that punished the Blues with their direct attacking play as two goals in the space of three second-half minutes put them on the verge of a famous win but it was not to be as Sliema rescued a point.

Sliema Wanderers should have taken the lead after four minutes of play when an indecision by Henrique Motta was pounced by Vito Plut who charged through but was blocked by Melita goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi.

The Slovenian had another open chance on eight minutes when Magri Overend’s cross found Plut unmarked who headed wide.

On 21 minutes, Magri Overend was picked in space on the right and cut inside the area but his shot was deviated just wide.

Sliema suffered a blow on the half hour mark when Myles Beerman was shown a straight red card for a foul on Melita skipper Jean Paul Attard.

Despite being a man down, the Blues still managed to take the lead on 32 minutes. Steve Pisani sent a fine cross inside the area and Samuel Gomes Da Mata headed home from close in.

Melita’s Andre Da Costa almost punished Sliema two minutes later when he intercepted Jean Borg’s back pass but fired over from close in.

Melita’s Matthew Debattista missed a huge opportunity four minutes from the break when he was played through but was denied by Kelvin Agu.

Melita were off to a flying start in the second half when Andre Pena Da Costa found Nick Cutajar in space inside the area and the young midfielder fired home.

Melita completed the comeback two minutes later when Yepez released Pena Da Costa who beat Agu with a cute lob to put his team 2-1 up.

Plut missed another good chance on 58 minutes when he fired a volley from inside the area over.

Seven minutes later, Agu kept Sliema in the match when he denied Andre Pena Da Costa.

The woodwork denied Sliema twice in the space of a few seconds when first Plut and then Zibo saw their header come off the upright.

Sliema’s persistence was rewarded seven minutes into stoppage when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Bastos and henri Murilo kept his cool to fire home the equaliser.