Sliema's Vito Plut puts his team ahead against Ħamrun Spartans. Photo: Domenic Aquilina
SLIEMA WANDERERS 1
Plut 52
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 1
Lopes Silva 58
SLIEMA WANDERERS
K. Agu Emeka, J. Borg, N. Frendo, A. Magri Overand, V. Plut (81 K. Nwoko), M. Beerman, G. Alcino, Wescley, S. Zibo, S. Pisani, A. Awad (81 M. Priadun).
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, S. Xerri, J. Mbong, R. Prsa, E. Freitas, O. Bjelicic, A. Amoustapha (16 C. Menacho), E. Marcelina (46 Mayron), R. Camenzuli, M. Klepac (73 D. Letherby), R. Lopes Silva
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow cards: Bjelicic, Freitas, Plut, Priadun.
The top fixture of weekend between Hamrun and Sliema Wanderers provided no winner as these two rivals had to settle for a draw in an intense encounter at the National Stadium.
Both sides knew that they needed a victory to keep alive their hopes of making it into the Final Four. But the final stalemate somewhat takes their fate out of their hands as they will now await how their rivals will fare in the final round of matches on Thursday.
The draw leaves Paul Zammit’s side level with Ħamrun but on direct enocunters and knowing that victory to Mosta on the final day of the season will guarantee their place in the Final Four provided Floriana do not finish at the top of the standings.
Sliema cleverly manoeuvred the ball around with purpose and penetration early on with the hold-up play by Vito Plut proving a regular base from which to launch attacks.
On 14 minutes, Plut had a well-struck volley blocked by Henry Bonello, after Steve Pisani’s throughball had sliced open the Ħamrun defence.
Muscat was enforced to make his first substitution when Amoustapha limped off injured and was evenutally replaced by Claros Menacho.
Bonello was being kept busy and on 26 minutes, he did well to push away Wescley’s low drive after Plut had squared the ball for the Brazilian striker.
The Spartans were feeling the strain and their inability to keep possession for longer period of time was not helping their cause.
Before half-time, the Wanderers forced Bonello into another smart save when the sprawling keeper gather Wescley’s point-blank header.
Muscat was forced into a second substitution at half-time, replacing Emerson Marcelina with Mayron.
Soon after the break, Plut tried to surprise Bonello out of position as he hit a swerving shot that the back-tracking goalkeeper saved with difficulty.
Yet, that was a good omen for the Blues as soon afterwards they forged ahead.
Pisani’s intelligent pass into a gap just outside the box was pounced on by the accelerating Plut who anticipated the onrushing Bonello before tapping home.
Ħamrun responded almost immediately.
Sliema were silenced when Ryan Camenzuli’s cross from the left found Joseph Mbong who headed the ball into the path of Raphael Lopes Silva who headed home despite Gustavo Alcino’s desparate attempt to hook the ball off the line.
Twelve minutes later, Ħamrun were inches away from pulling ahead, as yet another positional error by Emeka saw Lopes Silva arrowing the ball against the inner side of the crossbar.
Emeka was called into action late on again and he matched the heroics of his counterpart Bonello when he did well to tip over a half-volley by Camenzuli.
Wescely then sent a fierce shot which was blocked by Bonello as both teams had to settle for point in an entertaining draw.
