Grima`s salvo lands Sliema in last four

Sliema Wanderers 2
Pietà Hotspurs 1

Sliema`s expert taker of the dead ball, Massimo Grima, coming on as a late substitute, brought back some smiles into the Blues` scant clan when he floated a millimetric ball off a free-kick and over Pietà`s defensive wall in the last minute of normal time.

It was the type of salvo typical of this Wanderers` utility player - a goal which saw Pietà`s bold efforts evaporate into the warm, thin air which engulfed Ta` Qali stadium.

A match which never lifted off in terms of excitement, had the Blues forging ahead almost midway into the second period just when the Hotspurs started showing signs of vitality.

Sliema may have enjoyed more possession in the first half and had two good efforts at goal to their opponents` solitary shot.

Pietà`s resilient play after the change of ends earned them a deserved late equaliser, but that cold shower inflicted by Grima nullified their chances of proceeding into the last four of the Rothmans Trophy competition.

Certainly, the Wanderers would have to dig deeper into their reserves of skill and commitment to entertain any hopes of lifting the Rothmans Trophy for a record 19th time. Fielding a reshuffled formation in every outing is definitely not helping their cause, either.

Neither team had threatened until the ninth minute and it was a shot from Danilo Doncic which had Saviour Darmanin fully stretched to turn to corner for a good save.

The Blues, with Orosco Anonam, surprisingly, a non-starter, were also without David Camilleri and Grima, the latter being placed on the second grid.

The Hotspurs, on their part, paraded what could be regarded as their full formation, which had a 4-4-2 set-up. Strikers Malcolm Licari and Jamie Pace had the midfield support of Paul Seaman, Kevin Mamo, Sandro Zammit Fava and Roderick Briffa.

Noel Turner, for the Wanderers, was detailed to fill in the void on the left, a role which the suspended Carlo Mamo had to forfeit. Nenad Veselji, flanking Doncic up front, was almost on target midway through the opening half, but Darmanin tipped grandly to corner.

Sliema`s enterprise contrasted with Pietà`s caution, which was intended as a base for quick counter-attacks. However, the fare was largely unproductive as the target men at both ends were under tight supervision.

The Wanderers, largely through the industry of Kevin Sammut and better collective play, kept the upper hand, but five minutes from the interval Pace sensed a half chance and his shot on the turn brought a fine save from Murphy Akanji.

Better things were expected in the second half than a more three, albeit, good efforts at goal.

Shortly after the interval, Roger Walker was stretchered off following an unfortunate incident with his place being taken by Grima. Pietà`s persistence then called Akanji into a diving save. Play, though, remained fragmented, with little sign of a breakthrough.

A measured pass to Licari brought a whiff of excitement before Luke Dimech`s timely tackle averted danger for Sliema.

A quick exchange between Doncic and Veselji, had the latter running free before being brought down by the late-diving Darmanin inside the area. Turner converted the penalty.

Three minutes later, Darmanin had to dive to his right to turn to corner on Doncic. Pietà tried hard to bounce back into the reckoning. Their football was not to be dismissed. Anonam came on for Rupert Mangion.

Patrick Curmi went for more guns in attack 12 minutes from the end as he brought in Carmel Formosa and Ivan Woods for Mamo and Metodi Metodiev respectively.

It was Woods who produced a penalty seven minutes from the end as he forced Dimech into a late tackle. He sent the ball rolling low into the left hand corner.

Zammit Fava escaped lightly when he was only yellow-carded after denying Sammut a clear way to goal. But the measured free-kick from Grima soared exquisitely into the corner of the net.

That late goal proved to be a winner. The bold Hotspurs had to bow out.

Sliema W.: M. Akanji, I. Ciantar, B. Said, R. Walker (M. Grima), L. Dimech, N. Turner, D. Doncic, R. Buhagiar, K. Sammut, R. Mangion (O. Anonam), N. Veselji (J. Mifsud).

Pietà H.: S. Darmanin, P. Aquilina, R. Briffa, D. Okonkwo, G. Sciberras, M. Licari, S. Zammit Fava, K. Mamo (C. Formosa), P. Seaman (A. Debono), J. Pace, M. Metodiev (I. Woods).

Referee: J.R. Attard.

Scorers: Turner 64th pen.; Woods 83rd pen.; Grima 90th.

Yellow cards: Seaman, Zammit Fava.

Rothmans player of the match: Nenad Veselji (Sliema W.).