Sliema add to Marsaxlokk's woes

Marsaxlokk 1
Pullicino 63
Sliema Wanderers 2
Coto 25; Dronca 77 pen.

Marsaxlokk ended a turbulent week on a depressing note yesterday.

Needing a win to revive their fading Championship Pool hopes, Marsaxlokk suffered a potentially deadly blow to their top-six chances after finishing on the receiving end of a 2-1 upset to Sliema Wanderers who had new signings Victor Ortega Coto and Lucian Dronca marking their debut with a goal apiece.

Patrick Curmi, the Marsaxlokk coach, responded to his team's debacle against Ħamrun by reshuffling his formation.

His players did try to reverse the negative trend but their defensive weaknesses were exposed again as Sliema, themselves eyeing a win to halt a run of two defeats on the trot, rode out Marsaxlokk's second-half rally before applying the killer blow from a penalty.

Signed from Ħamrun on Friday, Dylan Kokavessis received Curmi's nod to make his bow.

Captain Carlo Mamo and veterans Brian Said and Peter Pullicino returned for Marsaxlokk while goalkeeper Reuben Debono was declared fit to start.

Stephen Wellman and William Camenzuli were out of the Marsaxlokk squad after being hit by a 28-day club ban and placed on the transfer list for disciplinary reasons. Argentine Julio Alcorse was another notable absentee after Marsaxlokk FC president Robert Micallef opted to dispense with his services.

Sliema's Branko Nisevic and Roderick Bajada were ruled out by suspension.

Kokavessis might have left an instant mark on his debut when reacting first to Malcolm Licari's cross but his mishit effort flashed wide.

The early exchanges were balanced but on 13 minutes Kokavessis spurned another golden opportunity. Marcelo Pereira advanced down the left before pulling the ball back for the unmarked Kokavessis whose scrambled attempt was blocked.

Sliema felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Ian Azzopardi, latching onto Daniel Saverino's corner, appeared to have been nudged off the ball by Said but referee Adrian Azzopardi was unmoved.

This proved to be the prelude to Sliema's goal which came on 25 minutes when Coto, yesterday partnering Ivan Woods in attack, sped through to reach a pass from Alex Muscat and rifled the ball past Debono.

Nine minutes from half-time, Sliema should have doubled their advantage when Muscat traded passes with Saverino but his low effort, struck from inside the box, was stopped by Debono.

Sliema's strategy of switching the ball from defence to their pacey wingers posed a constant threat to their opponents.

On the stroke of half-time, Marsaxlokk came close to an equaliser when Pullicino's cross-shot appeared to take a deflection but Bonello did well to palm the ball away for a corner.

Three minutes into the second half, Marsaxlokk threatened again when Kokavessis's flick was touched onto a post by Bonello.

Marsaxlokk were the more enterprising team now but Sliema's threat on the counter-attack remained very much alive.

Kokavessis squandered another chance when shooting tamely towards Bonello but at the other end, a quickfire Sliema move unnerved Marsaxlokk's defence as the speedy Bartolo broke clear on the right and crossed for Woods on the other side. The Sliema striker laid the ball to Saverino whose firm drive brought a brave save from Debono.

The Wanderers paid dearly for this miss as Marsaxlokk made it 1-1 three minutes past the hour, Pullicino beating Bonello with a curling drive from outside the box after Ian Ciantar had lost possession.

A chilly afternoon at Ta' Qali turned rainy, making the conditions more difficult. Licari tried to surprise Bonello with a long-range drive but the Sliema keeper saved.

Inspired by the industrious Pullicino, Marsaxlokk kept up a high tempo and only a fine save from Bonello stopped Sammut from putting the Southerners ahead.

Marsaxlokk's defensive frailties returned to haunt them 14 minutes from time. Roderick Briffa, now given more freedom to attack after the introduction of Mark Scerri, made a good run on the right before crossing for Bartolo who was clearly pushed from behind by Renato Conceicao, who had just come on for Kokavessis. The referee pointed to the spot and Dronca guided the penalty past Debono.

Five minutes from time, Briffa just missed the target and, moments later, Sliema had the ball in the net but Azzopardi was flagged offside.

Marsaxlokk
R. Debono-6.5, M. Licari-6.5, C. Mamo-5.5, G. Sciberras-6, B. Said-6, K. Sammut-6.5, P. Pullicino-7.5, D. Kokavessis-4 ('74 R. Conceicao), C. Brincat-6.5, M. Pereira-5, C. Cassar-6 ('84 M. Barbara).

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6.5, A. Muscat-6.5 ('84 C. Ciantar), I. Azzopardi-6, M. Bartolo-7, J. Chetcuti-6, I. Woods-7, L. Dronca-6.5, D. Saverino-5, I. Ciantar-5, V. Coto-6 ('73 M. Scerri), R. Briffa-6.5 ('90 M. Ciantar).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Conceicao; C. Ciantar; Brincat; Scerri.

BoV player of the match: Peter Pullicino (Marsaxlokk).