Jubilee Cup Last 32

Sliema………1 (3)

St.Andrews 1 (1)

Sliema Wanderers booked their place in the last 16 of the Jubilee Cup after a hard-fought encounter against St. Andrews, eventually triumphing in a tense penalty shootout.

In the 13th minute, Sliema created their first real scoring opportunity when Beerman delivered a low cross from the left, but Montebello fired over from close range. Six minutes later, Baggio tried his luck from distance, though his shot sailed over the bar.

In the 22nd minute, the Wanderers were awarded a free kick on the right; Pisani struck powerfully, but his effort went just high. A minute later, St Andrews missed a golden chance when Mosquera broke into the box from the right and, one-on-one with goalkeeper Emeka, shot wide.

In the 28th minute, St Andrews’ Sowah sent in a dangerous cross from the right, but Emeka reacted well to collect. Ten minutes later, Sliema came close again—after a cross from the right, Nwoko directed a fine header goalward, only for goalkeeper Tabone to save smartly.

A minute later, in the 39th, St Andrews took the lead on the counterattack. Sowah sprinted down the right, skipped past a defender and the goalkeeper, and calmly slotted the ball home. In the 43rd minute, a rough challenge by Dos Santos resulted in a yellow card for St Andrews. Just before the break, Montebello had another chance for Sliema but shot over from inside the six-yard box.

At the start of the second half, Sliema coach Paul Żammit made a triple substitution, introducing Al Tumi, Gomes, and Bah in place of Emeka, Baggio, and Beerman respectively.

Sliema immediately looked more dangerous, and in the 47th minute, Bah hit the upright following a cross from the right by Magri Overend. In the same move, Pisani tried a long-range effort, but Tabone was alert to make the save. Nine minutes later, Bah crossed towards Nwoko, but once again Tabone was quick to intercept.

In the 64th minute, St Andrews threatened through Mosquera, who turned the ball narrowly wide after a cross from the right.

Sliema finally equalised in the 70th minute when Montebello’s cross from the left was not cleared by the defence, allowing Bah to head home from close range. In the same minute, Conceicao of St Andrews received a yellow card for an unsporting challenge.

Two minutes later, St Andrews coach Mauro Delceppo made his first change, introducing Sciberras for Dos Santos. In the 75th minute, Pisani went close again with a strong shot that just missed the target. Sliema then made their fourth substitution, with Agius replacing Montebello.

In the 79th minute, St Andrews brought on Camilleri for Briffa. Seven minutes from time, Sliema won a free kick on the left, and Agius tried a direct shot, but Tabone once again produced a fine save.

A minute before the end of normal time, Sliema made their final change, with Espindola coming on for Matos da Silva. In the same minute, Dias of St Andrews received a second yellow card and was sent off.

Neither side managed to find a winner, and the match went to penalties.

Conceicao (St Andrews) and Bernardo (Sliema) both missed the opening spot kicks. Johnson (St Andrews) failed to convert as well, while Gomes scored for Sliema. Sowah netted for St Andrews, and Pisani did likewise for Sliema. Scicluna took the fourth penalty for St Andrews, but Al Tumi saved. Agius then stepped up and scored, sealing the win for Sliema Wanderers, who advanced to the next round.

Referee Daniel Portelli

Sliema Wanderers: Emeka Kelvin Agu (GK, 46’ Rashed Al Tumi), Jean Borg, Adam Magri Overend, Luke Montebello (75’ Edmond Agius), Myles Beerman (46’ Mamadu Bah), Kyrian Nwoko, Gustavo Alcino, Wescley Matos Da Silva (89’ Thiago Espindola de Paula), Murilo Henrique Freire Bernardo, Steven Pisani (C), Miguel Baggio Cover (46’ Jose Fernando Gomes).

St Andrews: Frederick Tabone(GK), Clay Paul Tanti, Duvan Mosquera Torres, Rodolfo Soares Dos Santos (43’ YC, 72’ Bradley Sciberras), Marcelo Mariano Dias (90’ YC), Liam Scicluna, Kurt Briffa (79’ Jack Camilleri), Ben Gaerty, Elizeu Espirito Santo Da Conceicao (70’ YC), Michael Johnson(C), Jeff Jadyn Sowah.