Sliema make top six, Greens miss out

Sliema Wanderers 3
Fenech 11; Dronca 66 pen.; Mifsud Triganza 90
Floriana 0

Sliema Wanderers extinguished Floriana's fading hopes of making the Championship Pool as the Blues eased to a 3-0 victory in yesterday's Old Firm derby.

It was another commanding performance from Mark Marlow's men who shrugged off the first-half dismissal of Brazilian midfielder Pedrinho to outplay the Greens in a one-sided clash and maintain their ascendancy towards the top places in the standings.

The Wanderers' win was surely greeted with joy by Tarxien Rainbows who have now been confirmed as the sixth team in the Championship Pool. Noel Coleiro's side, five points clear of fallen giants Floriana and Ħamrun, cannot be overtaken with only one match left before the end of the first phase of the Premier League.

Hibs are also sure of playing in the Championship Pool.

Sliema had no injury worries but not so can be said of Floriana. The Greens are still without Marlon Briffa, Sunday Eboh, Christian Cassar and Luke Agius who have long-term injuries. Russian striker Victor Zlydarev was again left on the bench with Ryan Darmanin operating as a lone striker and Christian Caruana giving support from midfield.

The Blues went on the offensive straight from the outset and after only six minutes, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's stinging drive was parried by Bernard Paris. From the rebound, Ivan Woods's shot drifted just wide.

Two minutes later it was Floriana who almost struck when, from a Pablo Doffo corner, Darmanin soared high but failed miserably from routine distance.

It was Sliema who drew first blood on 11 minutes when Mifsud Triganza fed Ryan Fenech just outside the area and the former Ħamrun midfielder produced a powerful volley that gave Paris no chance.

Two minutes later, Mifsud Triganza was again the provider when his inviting ball was nodded by Clayton Failla into the path of Woods who fired over.

Sliema were forced to make their first change on 29 minutes when Mark Scerri limped off injured. He was replaced by John Mintoff.

Floriana coach Zoran Popovic effected his first substitution on the half hour, Zlydarev coming on for Sacha Borg to provide more firepower up front.

The Wanderers should have doubled their lead on 35 minutes when Mifsud Triganza served the unmarked Mintoff who, however, shot straight at Floriana keeper Paris.

Mifsud Triganza then came close to putting his name on the scoresheet but his shot just missed Paris's goal.

Sliema were momentarily jolted five minutes from the break when Pedrinho was sent off. The Brazilian, who was playing against his former team, received his second booking after he tried to take a free-kick beyond the position ordered by the referee.

Despite their numerical advantage, Floriana still looked short of enthusiasm and at the interval, the Blues were still ahead.

Sliema maintained the upperhand and six minutes into the second half, they almost made it 2-0. Ian Azzopardi made inroads on the left before sending a dangerous low cross into the path of Mintoff who failed to hit home in front of goal.

As the minutes ticked by, the pressure on Floriana intensified. They needed a quick goal to turn the match around and maintain their Championship Pool hopes alive.

At last, they had a shot on goal on 59 minutes. In a swift break, Clifton Ciantar's pass put Zlydarev through but the Russian saw his grounder flash past the upright.

However, any hopes the Greens might have had were ended on 65 minutes when Mintoff was floored int the box by Stefano Grima and from the penalty, Lucian Dronca drove the ball past the diving Paris.

Floriana's woes increased 10 minutes from time when Doffo was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Mintoff.

Mifsud Triganza added a third goal in stoppage time, finishing off a good move by Mintoff.

Sliema Wanderers: S. Agius-6, A. Muscat-6.5, I. Azzopardi-6.5, J. Mifsud-6, R. Fenech-7 ('83 I. Ciantar), M. Scerri-5 ('29 J. Mintoff-6.5), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7.5, I. Woods-7, L. Dronca-6, Pedrinho, C. Failla-7 ('74 C. Gatt Baldacchino).

Floriana: B. Paris-5, C. Ciantar-6, S. Grima-5, B. Said-5.5, J. Briffa-5, O. Anonam-5, S. Lijeskic-4 ('70 C. Borg-5), P. Doffo, S. Borg-4.5 ('30 V. Zlydarev-4), C. Caruana-4.5 ('72 M. Spiteri), R. Darmanin-5.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Caruana; Pedrinho; Briffa; Woods; Lijeskic; Said.

Red cards: Pedrinho (SW) 40; Doffo (F) 80.

BoV player of the match: Ryan Fenech (Sliema Wanderers).