Mifsud Triganza lifts Wanderers again

Sliema Wanderers 2
Mifsud Triganza 53, 90
Hibernians 1
Lopes de Pina 22

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza stole the limelight again yesterday with two second-half goals against champions Hibernians to earn Sliema a come-from-behind win.

However, the former Birkirkara player, who scored the winner against Valletta last week, and most of his team-mates looked desperately short of form as Hibs threatened to cause an upset.

Mifsud Triganza yet again proved his worth, though, remaining focused after being denied a number of times by Hibernians goalkeeper Mario Muscat, to bag a brace and take his tally of league goals to 13.

It was a result that had looked unlikely after the opening half, with Sliema struggling to shake off the effect of their hard-fought win over Valletta. And Hibernians, after gaining an early advantage, appeared good enough to keep their opponents at arm's length.

A win for Hibernians would have taken them to 20 points and put pressure on Sliema and Qormi for the third place. And throughout the first half it seemed that outcome was inevitable as Sliema appeared jaded and short of ideas.

In the end, however, Hibs left the stadium wondering how they managed to finish empty-handed as they had done in their previous two matches.

Their build-up was hampered when Jonathan Caruana picked up an injury in the pre-match warm-up and was replaced by Tristan Caruana in the starting line-up.

That upset did not appear to unsettle the Paolites as they made a bright start to the game forcing a couple of early corners, which, unfortunately for Mark Miller's men, came to nothing. The first real chance came on 10 minutes and it fell to Hibernians when Adrian Pulis rose above Josef Mifsud and headed just over from a corner.

Sliema had to reshuffle their pack early on when midfielder Mark Scerri was forced off with an injury. He was replaced by Julio Alcorse.

Neither side was able to get a hold of the game in a scrappy opening with Sliema's chief threat coming from Clayton Failla, but Hibs repelled his first foray into the box with ease.

Hibernians were growing in authority as the composed passing of Andrew Cohen and the industry of Christian Callejas began to tell in midfield.

On 22 minutes, Cohen served Miguel Lopes de Pina who left fly an unstoppable shot past Sliema keeper Simon Agius and into the low corner of the net.

For all Sliema's efforts and endeavour, Hibernians always looked comfortable and on the half-hour mark, Dronca somehow managed to block the ball before Camilleri could feed the unmarked Cohen in the box.

And Cohen was again in the thick of things on 41 minutes when he picked out Lopes de Pina with a free-kick but the Portuguese striker failed to connect cleanly in front of goal.

Whatever was said at half-time seems to have had an effect on Sliema as Mark Marlow's men upped their game following the restart.

Alcorse missed a good opportunity when he headed over Muscat's goal and Jonathan Pearson's interception prevented Pedrinho from getting a shot on goal. Hibernians survived again on the 50th minute when Muscat brilliantly tipped Alcorse's header over the bar.

Sliema eventually reaped reward for their efforts when Mifsud Triganza muscled free of his markers and Dronca to smartly turn in goal Pedrinho's excellent cross.

That goal sparked another spell of pressure for Hibernians and the rest of the match turned into a personal duel between Muscat and Mifsud Triganza.

The veteran keeper twice thwarted Mifsud Triganza when he was through on goal. On 66 minutes, the Sliema striker seemed certain to score but Muscat pulled off a superb save with his feet.

Deep into stoppage time, however, Mifsud Triganza finally got the better of Muscat when he curled the ball home to earn his side another hard-earned victory.

Sliema Wanderers: S. Agius-6, A. Muscat-6, I. Azzopardi-6, J. Mifsud-5, R. Fenech-6, M. Scerri ('18 J. Alcorse-6.5), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-8, L. Dronca-6, J. Mintoff-6.5, Pedrinho-6.5, C. Failla-7.

Hibernians: M. Muscat-7, T. Caruana-6 ('74 J.P. Farrugia), E. Herrera-6, A. Xuereb-5, J. Pearson-5.5, A. Pulis-6.5 ('68 M. Tabone-5), E. Morelato-5, C. Callejas-6.5, M. Lopes de Pina-6.5, B. Camilleri-6.5 ('81 C. Camilleri), A. Cohen-6.5.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Callejas, Lopes De Pina, Cohen, Mintoff.

BoV player of the match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Sliema Wanderers).