Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways as they came from behind to defeat Lija Athletic 4-1 at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday. A win which enables Andrea Pisanu’s side to move top in the BOV Premier League, one point ahead of Gzira United and two ahead of Hibernians.

For Lija, this was the sixth consecutive defeat which leaves them second from bottom.

Ironically, Lija took the lead on the 12th minute when off a corner from the left, the ball reached Miguel Perez Jimenez who slotted home past goalkeeper Jake Galea.

Sliema equalised on the 45th minute when off a cross by Myles Beerman from the left, Riki Kakinuma’s flying header gave goalkeeper Luke Bonnici no chance.

Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro put the Wanderers 2-1 ahead as he flicked the ball home following a freekick from the right.

Three minutes later, Sliema increased the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Pedro Luiz Soares Gusso who floored Gilmar inside the area and from the penalty spot, Jean Paul Farrugia converted.

Juri Cisotti made it 4-1 on the 66th minute, heading the ball home in style off an inviting cross by Dejan Vukovic from the right.

SLIEMA Jake Galea, Kurt Shaw, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (78′ Ruslan Kisil), Juri Cisotti, Edmond Agius (68′ Alessandro Milesi), Gabriel Aquilina, Riki Kakinuma (78′ Alex Satariano), Oscar Linton, Jean Paul Farrugia (82′ John Mintoff), Myles Beerman (77′ Michele Sansone), Dejan Vukovic. 
Coach: Andrea Pisanu

LIJA Luke Bonnici, Carl Joseph Cassar, Pedro Luiz Soares Gusso (76′ McAllister Clinch), Daniel Scerri (61′ Gianluca Zammit), Erjon Beu, Fernando Javier Brandan, Harry Wood, Miguel Perez Jimenez, Juan Cruz Gill, Clayton Giordimaina, Carlos Flores (46′ Ryan Darmanin).
Coach: Joseph Galea

Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: O. Linton, Gilmar (S); D. Scerri, C. Giordimaina, J. Gill, F. Brandan (L)
BOV Player of the Match: Juri Cisotti