Wanderers return to winning ways

Sliema Wanderers moved closer to securing their Premier League status as they returned to winning ways, defeating Zebbug Rangers by the odd goal in five.

The Wanderers, in fact lie, ten points ahead of bottom-placed Tarxien and nine ahead of Pietà and Zebbug who share the tenth place. For Alfonso Greco’s side, this was the fourth consecutive defeat and the fifth defeat in six matches.

Zebbug took the lead on the 20th minute when off a freekick from the right by Carlo Monti, the unmarked Yessous Camilleri headed home past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

Sliema went close with attempts by Andrea Pisanu and Mateus Ribeiro dos Santos but Zebbug goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia performed good saves.

The Wanderers equalised five minutes from the end of the first half when off an Andrea Pisanu freekick, Djumo Bocar’s acrobatic shot beat Farrugia.

Two minutes in the second half, Sliema went 2-1 ahead when Mateus Ribeiro served Mark Scerri who beat Jeffrey Farrugia with a low shot from inside the area.

Five minutes later, Djumo Bocar scored the third goal as he headed the ball home from inside the area off a cross by Pisanu.

Zebbug were back in the game on the hour thanks to an own goal by John Mintoff who flicked the ball past Glenn Zammit, following a long Matthew Bartolo throw-in, in an attempt to anticipate Rashid Yussuff.

However in the remaining thirty minutes, Sliema managed to keep their opponents under control, going close to increasing the lead through Mateus Ribeiro in the dying minutes.

SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, Andrea Scozzese, Mateus Ribeiro dos Santos, John Mintoff (88′ Luca Martinelli), Mark Scerri, Andrea Pisanu, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Marko Potezica, Aidan Jake Friggieri (90+1′ Joseph Borg), Bocar Djumo (90′ Junior Obagbemiro).
Subs not used: Sam Bartolo, Clive Psaila, Peter Xuereb, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi

ZEBBUG Jeffrey Farrugia, Yessous Camilleri, Jacob Borg, Thomas Paris, Rashid Yussuff (82′ Miguel Ciantar), Matthew Bartolo, David Alejandro Reano, Paltemio Barbetti, Luke Montebello, Carlo Gordon Monti, Matias Muchardi (59′ Mauricio Osmar Rodrigues Britto).
Subs not used: Manuel Bartolo, Melvin Farrugia, Matthew Gauci, Lee Galea, Kurt Zammit.
Coach: Alfonso Greco

Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Luke Portelli
Additional Assistant Referees: Marco Borg, Chris Lautier
Fourth Official: Mitchell Scerri
Yellow Cards: Scerri, Mateus Ribeiro, Barbetti, Muchardi, Camilleri, Potezica, Paris, Bocar, Britto
Scorers: 20′ Yessous Camilleri, 41′ Djumo Bocar, 47′ Mark Scerri, 52′ Djumo Bocar, 60′ own goal John Mintoff
BOV Player of the Match: Djumo Bocar
Attendance: 350