Sliema Wanderers leave it for second half to beat Pietà

Sliema Wanderers bounced back from last week’s defeat to Balzan as they defeated Pietà Hotspurs 3-0 at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday. A win which enables the Blues to close in on the top three.

Pietà are now third from bottom on ten points, one behind Mosta. This was the third consecutive defeat for Ramon Zammit’s side and the fifth game without a win.

The Hotspurs had one change from the team which lost to Hamrun as Travis Bartolo replaced Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa. On the other hand, for the Wanderers, John Mintoff, Kilian Amehi and Younes Marzouk were preferred to Michele Sansone, Claudio Pani and Goran Adamovic.

Thirteen minutes in the second half, Sliema took the lead. A Younes Marzouk freekick was partially saved by Nicky Vella and off the rebound, Jefferson de Assis placed the ball at the back of the net from close range. 

On the 63rd minute, the Wanderers doubled the score when off a cross by Jefferson de Assis from the left, Nii Nortey Ashong hit home past the Pietà goalkeeper.

Sliema sealed the issue with a third goal on the 75th minute thanks to Younes Marzouk who concluded a solo effort with a low shot which beat Nicky Vella. 

Six minutes from time, Matias Muchardi could have added another but his low shot from inside the area hit the foot of the upright.

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Ose Takaki, Travis Bartolo, Neil Pace Cocks, Dylan Agius, Paul Chimezie (68′ Shunsuke Nakamura), Jan Busuttil (82′ Nicholas Pisani), Gabriel Mensah, Christian Grech, Ishaya Irimiya Jalo (82′ Christian Degabriele), Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto.
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Svein Bartolo, Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa, Ayrton Mizzi.
Coach: Ramon Zammit
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

SLIEMA Jake Galea, Matias Muchardi, Kurt Shaw, John Mintoff (82′ Michele Sansone), Mark Scerri (77′ Peter Xuereb), Jefferson de Assis (85′ Stefan Cassar), Nii Nortey Ashong, Frank Temile, Kilian Amehi, Stefano Bianciardi, Younes Marzouk.
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Jonathan Pearson, Luke Anthony Borg, Edmond Agius.
Coach: John Buttigieg
Asst. Coach: Ivan Woods

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Roberto Vella
Fourth Official: Alex Johnson
Yellow Cards: Scerri, Agius, Pace Cocks
BOV Player of the Match: Younes Marzouk
Attendance:  359