Sliema Wanderers breeze past Naxxar Lions

NAXXAR LIONS 0

SLIEMA WANDERERS 3

Wescley 6, Plut 54, Bastos 90 pen.

NAXXAR LIONS

A. Fenech, N. Micallef, P. Barreto, T. Yamaguci (62 K. Haber), E. Farias (62 N. Pace Cocks), R. Cassar (62 O. Portelli) G. Barbosa, M. Fenech (75 J. Bonanno), S. Degabriele (75 G. Bonanno), D. Jackson, Y. Ito.

SLIEMA WANDERERS

K. Emeka, J. Borg, V. Plut (76 N. Strickland), M. Beerman, G. Alcino (69 A. Magri Overand), Wescley, C. Attard, H. Murilo, S. Zibo (69 N. Frendo), S. Pisani (83 Serginho), A. Awad (76 J. Bastos).

Referee: Daniel Casha.

Sliema consolidated their third place when they powered past Naxxar Lions in a one-way traffic encounter.

Brazilian Wescley scored a screamer before Vito Plut popped up to head home nine minutes after the break. Jonata Bastos added more gloss to the scoreline with a spot kick at death.

Although Naxxar Lions made all the early running, it was not long before Sliema took control.

Wescley da Silva had put Sliema ahead when he picked the ball just outside the box, took one touch before arrowing his shot past Andrè Fenech to the delight of the Sliema supporters.

Steve Pisani might have added a second when his rising shot was superbly saved by Fenech after 23 minutes.

The confusion at the back for Naxxar was summed up when Fenech instead of hoisting the ball up the field, the goalkeeper tried to go past Vito Plut, almost lost possession and had to concede a cheap corner.

Sliema could have been out of sight by half-time. Wescley had another crack at the Naxxar goal but his grounder hit the foot of the post and then, Pisani’s drive met a similar fate after a well-worked move.

Naxxar struggled to offer their usual cutting edge but could have been on level terms soon after half-time when Takuma Yamaguchi’s diagonal shot flashed across the face of goal.

Yet Naxxar lost the ball deep in their half before it found its way out to Cain Attard on the right flank. He floated in an inviting cross and Plut was first to react as he sent a powerful header past Fenech.

On 73 minutes, Jean Borg’s long ball fell for substitute Adam Magri Overend who lashed a shot which finished on the side-netting.

At the death, Sliema were awarded a penalty after Myles Beerman was fouled inside the box. From the spot kick, substitute Jonata Bastos cooly slotted the ball behind Fenech.