ŻABBAR SP 1
Jovancic 42
SLIEMA WANDERERS 0
ŻABBAR SP
M. Grech, J. Micallef, W. Bonilha, S. Ilic (83 S. Gatt), Z. Grech, J. Pisani, D. Tavares, S. Jovancic, V. De Paiva, K. Keqi, D. Jovicic (83 I. Akpan).
SLIEMA WANDERERS
A. Emeka, J. Borg, A. Magri Overend, V. Plut, M. Beerman, G. Alcino (81’ N. Frendo), Wescley (64 M. Awad), M. Freire, G. Acheampong, S. Zibo (81 K. Nwoko), S. Pisani.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Yellow cards: Alcino, Tavares, Zibo, Pisani, Akpan.
Red card: Freire (S) 89.
Żabbar St. Patrick opened their Closing Round commitments in the best possible way with a narrow win over Sliema Wanderers.
The Saints managed to strike late in an otherwise rather uneventful first half and although the Wanderers tried hard during the second half to claw themselves back into the match, they were kept at bay by the Żabbar rearguard.
Żabbar had two changes as new recruit Jurgen Pisani and Vinicius De Paiva replaced the suspended Joao Pedro and Brian Gambarte.
Sliema, on the other hand, welcomed Steve Pisani back in the starting line-up with Mohamed Awad forced to settle for a place on the bench.
The game had a most quiet start with neither goalkeeper being tested in the opening minutes.
The first chance arrived on 22 minutes, Diogo Tavares had a shot from outside the area ending just wide.
On the half hour, Geoffrey Acheampong had a diagonal shot from the right which just missed the target.
Steve Pisani went close with a freekick from the left for Sliema on 39 minutes but two minutes later, Djordje Jovicic had an effort from long distance tipped into a corner by goalkeeper Kelvin Agu.
Żabbar managed to break the deadlock on 42 minutes. Stefan Ilic delivered a corner from the left and Strahinja Jovancic headed the ball past Emeka.
Sliema replied with a low shot by Jean Borg from outside the area which was deflected by Simon Zibo to end wide on 44 minutes.
In the second half, the Wanderers went out in search of the equaliser and Acheampong went close with a shot from outside the area on 49 minutes.
At the other end, Wallace Bonilha had a low shot saved by Emeka.
Żabbar goalkeeper Matthew Grech came to his side’s rescue, turning a Geoffrey Acheampong freekick into a corner on 73 minutes.
Three minutes later, the Żabbar custodian tipped over a Mohamed Awad effort from the left.
Acheampong had a freekick from the right saved by Grech on 80 minutes and four minutes later, off a Steve Pisani corner from the right, substitute Kyrian Nwoko fired just wide from routine distance.
With three minutes to go, Żabbar had an appeal for a penalty after they argued that Diogo Tavares was fouled inside the area but the referee waved play on.
However a minute from time, Sliema captain Murilo Freire was sent off for hitting an opponent.
Despite being a man down, Sliema threw more men forward in search of a leveller but the Żabbar held firm to secure a famous win.
