Watch: Sliema Wanderers see off Birkirkara to go top of Closing Round Top Six

BIRKIRKARA          0

SLIEMA WANDERERS             1       

Awad 36

BIRKIRKARA

G. Volpe, M. Morello, A. Sandona, Lecao (46 N. Agius), P. Mbong, K. Reid, S. Dimech (63 P. Gaitan), T. Papazov, N. Cross, D. Makoma (87 B. Esalo), G. Yikpe.

SLIEMA WANDERERS

K. Agu, J. Borg, A. Magri Overend, V. Plut (83 M. Pryadun), M. Beerman, G. Alcino, Wescley (83 N. Frendo), M. Freire, G. Acheampong, S. Zibo, M. Awad (90 E. Agius).

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic.

Yellow cards: Wescley, Yikpe.

Sliema Wanderers are the new leaders of the 360Sports Malta Premier as a goal towards the end of the first half enabled them to beat Birkirkara 1-0.

It was the fifth win on the trot for the Wanderers who were also obtaining a second win over Birkirkara in the space of fifteen days. Sliema are now one point ahead of Ħamrun Spartans, two ahead of Marsaxlokk and Floriana and five clear of Mosta and Birkirkara.

On the other hand, for the Stripes, this was the third successive defeat.

Coach Stefano De Angelis was forced to make four changes as Neil Micallef, Alessandro Coppola, Alexander Satariano and Maxuell Maia were all ruled out by suspension.

Tomislav Papazov, Shaun Dimech, Lecao and Kemar Reid were handed a start.

The Wanderers, on the other hand, had Mohamed Awad named in the starting line-up with Steven Pisani kept on the bench as he was not fully fit.

The two teams shared the exchanges throughout the first 45 minutes with play concentrated in midfield.

Apart from a fine shot by Paul Mbong ending just wide after six minutes, the two goalkeepers were never threatened until 36 minutes when Sliema took the lead.

Geoffrey Acheampong pressed Kemar Reid on the right; the ball was deflected by the Sliema midfielder into the path of Vito Plut and the Slovenian forward served Awad who was at the right place at the right time to hit the ball home.

The game improved in the second half and on 59 minutes, Sliema threatened once again when Awad concluded a good run with a pass for Wescley whose ended just wide.

Birkirkara replied with an angled shot by Gnamien Yikpe which was neutralised by Agu four minutes later.

On 71 minutes, Awad served Plut whose concludsion was cleared off the line by Papazov and off the rebound, Wescley’s shot from outside the area was blocked.

Then Acheampong’s cross shot from the left was saved in two attempts by Volpe. 

However, Birkirkara hit back with a freekick by Paul Mbong which created havoc inside the area with the ball finally being cleared into a corner.

On 74 minutes Reid had a low shot from inside the area ending just wide.

Late on, Birkirkara pushed for an equaliser and with one minute to go, they were unlucky to have a shot by Reid blocked by substitute Brian Esalo.

Then, Agu produced a good save on a cross by Mbong from the left.

Deep in stoppage time, Morello had an angled shot from the left parried by the Sliema custodian.