Woods strikes late to send Sliema top

Qormi 1
Chetcuti 71
Sliema Wanderers 2
Muscat 20; Woods 90

Ivan Woods struck with a thunderous header at the death to give Sliema Wanderers a 2-1 victory over newcomers Qormi who looked to have done enough to earn a point.

Keen to make up for their agonising 3-2 defeat to Ħamrun Spartans the previous Sunday, Qormi had cancelled out Alex Muscat's early opener through man-of-the-match Joseph Chetcuti but their hopes were shattered by Woods's killer blow.

Tempers flared in the stands at the end of the match as the Qormi faithful found defeat too hard to swallow after their team played an excellent second half.

Sliema may have been the better team during the first half but after the interval, Qormi improved. Their equaliser was fully deserved as the Blues' rearguard found it increasingly difficult to contain a wave of sprightly moves engineered by Alfred Effiong and Josivan Da Silva.

Sliema, who are now leading the standings with 18 points, effected one change from the team that beat Msida St Joseph 2-1. Skipper Jeffrey Chetcuti was included in Stephen Azzopardi's first XI as the Blues had to make do without the suspended Roderick Briffa.

Qormi coach Jesmond Zerafa was without Renie Forace and Chucks Nwoko, both suspended, while Joseph Farrugia has yet to recover from injury.

Inside the first minute of the match, Qormi were caught on the wrong foot in defence as Kane Farrugia, who was again deployed at right-back for Sliema, floated a good ball towards the unmarked Roderick Bajada whose volley failed to trouble Reuben Gauci in goal.

After six minutes, Farrugia floored Da Silva some five metres outside the penalty area. From the resulting free-kick, Massimo Grima tapped the ball towards the Brazilian who powered a low shot that missed the target.

Sliema stormed ahead on 20 minutes thanks to a gem of a strike by Muscat. The Malta wing-back started the move with an intelligent cross towards Daniel Severino who returned the ball to Muscat who had raced into the penalty area. Muscat had the better of Gauci with a curling shot on the half turn from the centre of the box.

A minute later, Sliema might have doubled their lead. Bajada drifted down the right flank, outpacing Dos Santos in the process before sending a cross towards Matthew Bartolo whose diving header from close range sailed just wide of the post.

Sliema continued to dictate matters and 10 minutes from half-time, Severino's corner encouraged Woods to tower above a host of players but his header flew over the bar.

Qormi commenced the second half in positive fashion with Effiong and Da Silva creating some anxious moments from the Blues' rearguard.

Ten minutes after the restart, Grima's swinging free-kick was palmed away for a corner by Henry Bonello. It was the closest Zerafa's men had come to levelling matters.

On the hour, Sliema coach Azzopardi reshuffled his rearguard as Clifton Ciantar was introduced at left-back and his brother Ian moved to the right side of defence following Farrugia's substitution.

The improving Qormi were rewarded for their persistence on 71 minutes. Effiong set up Chetcuti who placed the ball beyond Bonello's reach for Qormi's equaliser.

Bolstered by his team's goal and cheered on by the vociferous fans, Qormi coach Zerafa now introduced midfielder Adrian Ciantar instead of Chetcuti 12 minutes from time.

The substitution almost paid instant dividends as a menacing cross by Ciantar was not cleared by the Sliema defenders but no white-shirted players were at hand to stab the ball home.

In the dying seconds, Effiong did well to dribble past two players before serving the unmarked Da Silva in the centre of the penalty area. The Brazilian failed to control the ball and an inviting chance was squandered.

Qormi were made to pay for this missed opportunity as at the other end, Sliema scored the winner in the game's last move.

Bajada floated a corner into a crowded penalty area and Woods stunned Gauci with a firm header that somehow found its way into the net.

Qormi
R. Gauci-6.5, P. Camilleri-6.5, J. Saliba-6.5, R. Dos Santos 6.5, M. Grima-6.5, A. Debono-6, J. Chetcuti-7.5 ('78 A. Ciantar), K. Fenech-7, R. Sammut-6, J. Da Silva-7, A. Effiong-6.5.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello-6.5, A. Muscat-7, I. Azzopardi-6.5, K.P. Farrugia-6.5 ('62 C. Ciantar-6), B. Nisevic-6.5, M. Bartolo-7, J. Chetcuti-6.5, I. Woods-6.5, D. Severino-7 ('86 J. Vella), I. Ciantar-6.5 ('84 M. Ciantar), R. Bajada-7.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Da Silva; Debono; Bajada.

BoV player of the match: Joseph Chetcuti (Qormi).