A brace by Joseph Mbong enabled Hamrun Spartans to beat leaders Sliema Wanderers 2-0 at the National Stadium on Tuesday. The Spartans therefore join the Wanderers at the summit, at least before Hibernians, who lie one point behind, take on Gzira United.

Sliema therefore suffer their third defeat – the second one in four matches. Hamrun, on the other hand, returned to winning ways following a disappointing 2-2 draw with Lija Athletic last week.

They managed to take the lead on the 14th minute when Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares concluded a fine run on the left with a cross for Joseph Mbong to hit home from close range.

Eleven minutes in the second half, Gilmar was unlucky to hit the crossbar for Sliema.

However, five minutes from time, Hamrun sealed the issue with a second goal, once again thanks to Joseph Mbong who beat goalkeeper Jake Galea with a great header off a cross by Predrag Djordjevic.

SLIEMA Jake Galea, Kurt Shaw, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (69′ Alex Satariano), Juri Cisotti, Denilson Pereira, Gabriel Aquilina, Riki Kakinuma (81′ John Mintoff), Oscar Linton Bethancourt (69′ Edmond Agius), Myles Beerman, Dejan Vukovic (81′ Michele Sansone), Sylvano Comvalius (59′ Jean Paul Farrugia).
Coach: Andrea Pisanu

HAMRUN Manuel Bartolo, Darko Gojkovic, Matthew Guillamuier, Arthur Oyama (90′ Ige Abdullahi Adeshina), Joseph Essien Mbong, Jorge Ailton Soares (90′ Darren Borg), Franklin Sasere, Elkin Serrano Valero, Juan Carlos Corbalan, Predrag Djordjevic, Emerson Marcelina.
Coach: Mark Buttigieg

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius
Yellow Cards: E. Marcelina, M. Bartolo (H), R. Kakinuma, O. Linton Bethancourt (S)
BOV Player of the Match: Ailton Jorge dos Santos Soares