After suffering five consecutive defeats, Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways as a goal early in the second half gave them a narrow win over Tarxien Rainbows at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. A win which puts them in joint-seventh place with Mosta, two points ahead of Pembroke.

For the Rainbows, this was another disappointing result after being held in a draw by St. Andrews last week. They won just one out of the last six matches.

Under the guidance of care-taker coach Ivan Woods, the Wanderers could not count on the injured Luke Dimech. Ebiabowei Baker returned for Tarxien after serving a one-match ban.

After a goalless first half, the Wanderers managed to score the all-important goal on the 59th minute thanks to Johann Bezzina whose low shot from inside the area beat goalkeeper Andrea Cassar.

TARXIEN Andrea Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker, Manuel Caruana, Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Ayrton Azzopardi, Carlos Hevia Menendez (33′ Matthew Tabone), Luke Montebello, Sergio Fernandez Prendes, Daniel Zerafa, Alex da Paixao Alves, Claudio Frances (67′ Alex Nilsson).
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Brandon Muscat, Roderick Bajada, Matthew Tabone, Ryan Spiteri, John Mintoff.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat (70′ Aidan Jake Friggieri), Mark Scerri, Njongo Priso (83′ Haruna Shola Shodiya), Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Marko Potezica, Johann Bezzina, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Gary Muir, Jean Paul Farrugia (90′ Kyle Hendry), Stefano Bianciardi.
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Justin Vella, Peter Xuereb, Arsenne Rye Cilia.
Coach:

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Mitchell Scerri
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: Priso, Frances, Bezzina, Nilsson
Scorers: 59′ Johann Bezzina
BOV Player of the Match: Johann Bezzina
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 618

Hibernians found no difficulty in disposing off Qormi, beating them 6-0 at the Hibernians Stadium. This was the eighth consecutive defeat for Johann Scicluna’s side.

The Paolites welcomed back Jorginho but lacked Jorge Santos Silva apart from Rui da Gracia Gomes with Clayton Failla being retained on the bench. Qormi, on the other hand, lacked Clifford Gauci and Ryan Micallef.

Hibs took the lead on the 9th minute when off a Jackson Lima corner, a header by Andrei Agius gave the Qormi goalkeeper no chance.

On the 14th minute, Qormi goalkeeper Andreas Vella tipped into a corner a Jorginho freekick and from the resulting corner by Cohen, Gilmar addressed the ball in the direction of Jorge da Slva Pereira whose diagonal shot beat the Qormi custodian.

The Paolites made it 3-0 on the 23rd thanks to a powerful drive by Andrew Cohen after the Qormi defence failed to clear the ball into safety following a corner by Gilmar.

Seven minutes from the end of the first half, Ousmane Sidibe brought Jorginho down inside the area, referee Trustin Farrugia Cann ordered a penalty and sent off the Qormi defender; from the penalty spot, Edison Luis Dos Santos made no mistake.

Hibs increased the lead further on the 63rd minute when Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, served by Tarabai, beat Vella with a low diagonal shot.

Eight minutes later, Tarabai was brought down inside the area and from the penalty spot, Jorge da Silva Pereira placed the ball at the back of the net to make it 6-0.

Six minutes from time, Qormi had another player sent off a Pietro Viggiani was given marching orders by Farrugia Cann after kicking an opponent. On the 89th minute, Jackson Lima was also sent off for Hibernians after receiving a second yellow card.

HIBS Justin Haber, Jonathan Pearson, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen (79’ Dunstan Vella), Andrei Agius, Edison Luis dos Santos (73’ David Xuereb), Joseph Essien Mbong, Jorge da Silva Perreira, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (67’ Jurgen Degabriele),
Subs not used: Rudy Briffa, Dunstan Vella, Clayton Failla, Zach Scerri, Diosdado Mbele Mangue Mba.
Coach: Branko Nisevic

QORMI Andreas Vella, Emerson Vella (74’ Aidan Bonnici), Ousmane Sidibe, Tensior Gusman, Djamel Romano Leeflang Boestra, Yannick Yankam, Alessio Cassar, Immy Micallef (60’ Joshua Barbara), Noah Olawale Ojuola, Terrence Vella (67’ Pietro Viggiani), Kurt Magro.
Subs not used: Miguel Falzon, Luke Farrugia, Gilmore Azzopardi, Ricardo Sciberras.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Sammy Attard
Fourth Official: Esther Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: Kristensen, Lima
Red Cards: 39′ Ousmane Sidibe, 84′ Pietro Viggiani, 89′ Jackson Lima
Scorers: 9′ Andrei Agius, 15′ Jorge da Silva Pereira, 23′ Andrew Cohen, 43′ Edison Luis dos Santos pen, 63′ Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, 71′ Jorge da Silva Pereira
BOV Player of the Match: Jorge da Silva Pereira
Attendance at the Hibernians Stadium: 776