Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways as they scored twice in the second half to beat Zabbar St. Patrick 2-0 in a match from the 360Sports Malta Premier Opening Round at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Sunday.
The Blues join Floriana in second place, seven points behind leaders Birkirkara but the Greens have a game against Marsaxlokk in hand. Zabbar, on the other hand, suffer their sixth defeat to stay at the bottom of the table with just four points.
Making his debut for the Saints was new coach Aniello Parisi.
Sliema managed to take the lead on 10 minutes when off a corner from the right by Mohamed Awad, Jean Borg headed the ball home past goalkeeper Matthew Grech.
The Wanderers doubled the score on 31 minutes when off an assist by Vito Plut from the edge of the area, Simon Zibo’s well-placed shot beat the Zabbar custodian.
Eight minutes later, Sliema could have added another but Adam Magri Overend’s headers off a cross by Wescley hit the crossbar.
Zabbar were reduced to ten men on 71 minutes after Strahinja Jovancic received a second yellow card.
>> Sliema Wanderers FC vs Zabbar St. Patrick FC match card