Sliema Wanderers ease past Hibernians to keep pressure on league pacesetters

SLIEMA WANDERERS     3         

Magri Overend 3

Alcino 35; Awad 63

HIBERNIANS 1         

Bruno 60

SLIEMA

E. Agu, J. Borg, A. Magri Overend, M. Beerman, G. Alcino, Wescley (76 N. Frendo), M. Freire, S. Zibo, S. Pisani (88 Serginho), M. Awad (71 G. Acheampong), Jonata (71 V. Plut).

HIBS

P. Sanchez, Kleiton (70 F. Falcone), S. Hamanojda (70 D. Xuereb), K. Shaw, K. Fraga, J. Degabriele (70’ I. Chukunyere), B. Kristensen, A. Bruno, G. Bastianos (59 Miullen), P. Silva, H. Fernandes.

Referee: Alex Johnson.Yellow Cards: Fraga, Shaw, Mullen, Kristensen, Acheampong, Magri Overend.

An early goal paved the way for Sliema Wanderers to record a comfortable victory over Hibernians and keep up the pressure with the league pacesetters

The Wanderers deserved the three points as they were the better side throughout the 90 minutes. Thanks to this win, they stay one point behind Floriana and three adrift of leaders Birkirkara.

Hibernians, on the other hand, remain fourth. They failed to impress, only managing to make a reaction after conceding the second goal.

Sliema had two changes from the team which defeated Naxxar Lions as Jonata and Adam Magri Overend replaced Vito Plut and the injured Cain Attard.

Branko Nisevic, on the other hand, opted for four changes as Pablo Sanchez was preferred to Hugo Sacco in goal while Ayrton Attard, Dexter Xuereb and Federico Falcone made way for Kleiton, Bjorn Kristensen and Alex Bruno.

The Paolities had the first attempt at goal after just one minute with Alex Bruno having a diagonal shot from the right ending just wide.

However, two minutes later, Sliema took the lead when off an assist by Jonata from the right, Adam Magri Overend slotted the ball past goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez.

Hibs replied with an Alex Bruno effort from the right ending high on 10 minutes.

The Wanderers doubled the score on 35 minutes.

Steve Pisani delivered a corner from the left, Magri Overend headed the ball down for Gustavo Alcino to flick the ball past goalkeeper Sanchez.

A Jonata effort from outside the area was saved in two attempts by the Hibernians goalkeeper on 54 minutes and hardly a minute later, Myles Beerman went close with an angled shot from the left.

However, Hibernians reduced the gap on the hour. Bruno’s first-time effort handed goalkeeper Emeka Kelvin Agu no chance off a Jurgen Degabriele cross from the left.

However, three minutes later, Sliema regained a two-goal lead.

Pisani sent Mohamed Awad through, the latter’s first attempt was blocked by the goalkeeper but the ball still fell at his feet with the Somali international placing the ball at the back of the net.

The Wanderers kept pushing for more and Sanchez came to the rescue as he rushed out of the area to anticipate Bastos, who was advancing all alone on the right on 68 minutes

Six minutes from time, Pedrao went close for Hibernians as he tested Sliema goalkeeper Emeka Kevin Agu with a fine header off a Lucas Caruana freekick from the right.