Sliema Wanderers moved nine points clear of fourth-placed Marsaxlokk and Birkirkara as they scored twice in the second half to beat neighbours Gzira United 2-0 at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Sunday
The Wanderers therefore extended their positive run to eleven matches while bringing to an end the Maroons’ positive run as they had claimed maximum points from the previous three matches. Gzira are now joint-seventh with Naxxar on 24 points, two behind Hibernians, one ahead of Mosta and two ahead of Balzan and Santa Lucia.
Following a goalless first half, the Wanderers managed to take the lead on the 59th thanks to a Murilo Henrique Freire Bernardo penalty after referee Fyodor Zammit adjudged a challenge by Marcelo Dias on Joachim Adukor as a foul.
To make matters worse for the Maroons, Jackson Mendoza was sent off seven minutes later afer receiving a second yellow card.
Seven minutes in added time, substitute Neil Frendo doubled the score for Sliema with a curved shot from inside the area after a good move by Daniil Kondrakov.