Malta round-up: Sliema fend off Floriana

Sliema Wanderers FC bounced back to second position in the Maltese Premier League's championship pool on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Floriana FC.

Penalty save
In-form Floriana went into the game without regular goalkeeper Justin Haber, who sustained a freak hand injury in midweek, but stand-in Matthew Camilleri pulled off a superb penalty save early on from sharpshooter Danilo Doncic.

Doncic makes amends
After 16 minutes Sliema forged ahead - a fine Orosco Anoman move found Kevin Sammut well positioned and he shot past Camilleri to give Sliema the lead.  Sliema kept piling up the pressure on the Floriana goal and it was no surprise when Doncic fired a low sharp shot past Camilleri from the edge of the box past a helpless Camilleri for Sliema's second.

Mangion the star
It was a different story after the restart.  Floriana poured forward but Sliema goalkeeper Murphy Akanji, back after his one-week trial with English club Bolton Wanderers FC, was in fine form and stopped everything that came his way.  Ten minutes from time, Rupert Mangion, the game's man of the match, found Orosco Anoman who fired past Camilleri for Sliema's third and final goal.

Precious point
Earlier on Sunday, Naxxar Lions FC and Marsa FC shared the points in a relegation pool fixture.  With both sides in cautious mood it was no surprise when the game ended in a 1-1 draw.  Despite taking the field with three players suspended, Marsa still managed to hold on to a precious point.

Lufi saves draw
Penalty expert Nikolai Slavtchev opened the score for Marsa from the spot fourteen minutes into the second half, after Marsa striker Igor Stefanovic was felled down by Mejic.  Three minutes later Naxxar equalised with a well-taken goal by player-coach Edmond Lufi who headed home a neat assist from star man Daniel Bogdanovic.