New Sliema Wanderers coach Stefano Maccoppi marked his debut with a win as they defeated Tarxien Rainbows 2-1 at the National Stadium on Friday.

For the Wanderers, this was the first win after a defeat and three draws in the last four matches. The Rainbows, on the other hand, suffer a third consecutive defeat.

Sliema took the lead on the 29th minute when off a cross by Ryan Fenech, Claudio Pani hit past Tarxien custodian Dorian Bugeja.

Eight minutes in the second half, the Wanderers doubled the score thanks to Mark Scerri after Ignacio Varela’s cross shot hit the woodwork.

Tarxien pulled one back through Jens Wemmer eleven minutes from time with a cross shot which beat Jake Galea.

The Rainbows were reduced to ten men four minutes later after Matthew Spiteri received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle.

TARXIEN Dorian Bugeja, Jens Wemmer, Juan Cruz Gill, Matthew Spiteri, Michele Paolucci (62′ Daren Falzon), Gabriel Aquilina, Luke Grech (86′ Daniel Zerafa), Siraj Arab Eddin (53′ Jacson De Paixao), Destin Mambouana, Ricardo Silva Faria, Alex Nilsson.
Subs not used: Maverick Buhagiar, Matthew Brincat, Daniel Vassallo, Miguel Ciantar.
Coach: Jose Borg
Asst. Coach: Saviour Debono Grech

SLIEMA Jake Grech, Kurt Shaw, Mark Scerri, Ignacio Varela, Ryan Fenech, Nii Nortey Ashong, Frank Temile (86′ John Mintoff), Michele Sansone, Claudio Pani, Stefano Bianciardi, Younes Marzouk.
Subs not used: Timothy Aquilina, Matias Muchardi, Jonathan Pearson, Omar Elouni, Peter Xuereb, Stefan Cassar.
Coach: Stefano Maccoppi
Asst. Coach: Ivan Woods

Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Theodore Zammit
Fourth Official: Andrea Sciriha
Yellow Cards: Pani, Temile, Spiteri, Marzouk
Red Cards: 83′ Matthew Spiteri
BOV Player of the Match: Claudio Pani

Attendance: 127