Sliema hold too much firepower for Naxxar Lions to kickstart Closing Round

SLIEMA WANDERERS 4

Plut 32; Priadun 48

Frendo 65; Beerman 77

NAXXAR LIONS 0

SLIEMA WANDERERS

K. Emeka, J. Borg, N. Frendo (82 N. Strickland), A. Magri Overand, V. Plut (82 K. Cauchi), M. Priadun (70 E. Agius), M. Beerman, Wescley (88 B. Zani), G. Acheampong, S. Kone, A. Awad Mohamed (88K. Gauci)

NAXXAR LIONS

M. Debono, N. Micallef (35 T. Yamaguchi), N. Pace Cocks ( 79 G. Bonanno), E. Farias (79 M. Fenech), T. Ndao, R. Cassar (79 J. Borg), Maicon, F. Barbosa, D. Jackson (46 F. Jno-Baptiste), J. Cardoso, Y. Ito

Referee Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Beerman, Acheampong, Pace Cocks, Wescley.

Red card: Acheampong (S) 59.

Sliema Wanderers saw off Naxxar Lions to finally kickstart their Closing Round campaign after their shock loss against Zabbar St Patrick in MatchDay One.

Vito Pluto opened the score in the first half before Maksym Priadun marked his debut with a fine goal.

A third goal by Neil Frendo meant that Naxxar’s match would turn into a rout for a second consecutive time. Myles Beerman added Sliema’s fourth with a superb personal goal.

Paul Zammit made four changes from the team that defeated Għajnsielem 8-0 last weekend in the FA Trophy with Simon Zibo, Gustavo Alcino and Murilo Freire all suspended but his much-changed line-up did not take long to find their rhythm.

Sliema dominated possession in the opening phase of the match, their measured style of play was in stark contrast to Naxxar’s quick and direct approach.

Neil Pace Cocks should have scored after only 11 minutes, but the midfielder hit a low drive that rolled just wide.

But past the half hour mark, Vito Plut slotted the Blues ahead with a precise finish after taking one touch to bring the ball under control to beat Matthias Debono with a rising shot.

Sliema’s new boy Maksym Priadun created a wonderful chance for himself, when he played the ball with a one-two with Plut, turned his man brilliantly, but with time to pick the spot he shot over the bar.

But three minutes from the start of the second half, the Ukrainian winger put the Blues two goals ahead.

The move began from a long pass that left the Naxxar Lions defence all over the place and allowed him to get away with the ball, as he outsprinted his marker before slotting the ball into the low corner.

But Sliema were then reduced to ten men for the final 30 minutes when Geoffrey Acheampong was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Sliema reacted immediately to this setback, however, and Frendo finished neatly at the far post from Mohamed Awad’s dangerous cross.

A great solo run from Myles Beerman brought the fourth goal when the wingback broke forward from halfway on the left flank, dazzled with his fancy footwork before hitting a low drive into the far corner.