Sliema Wanderers scored twice in the opening thirty minutes as they beat Zabbar St. Patrick 2-1 in a match from the YoHealth Malta Premier Opening Round at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Zabbar reduced the gap a few minutes later and went close to equalising early in the second half but the Blues held tight till the end to take home the first three points.
The Wanderers had Rashed Al Tumi, Luke Montebello, Roko Prsa, Thiaguinho and Miguel Baggio making their debut along with Sulahmana Bah and Boubakary Diarra both included as substitutes. Zabbar, on the other hand, had no less than six new players in the starting line-up: Abu Dumbuya, Haroun Tchaouna, Nicholas James Agius, Toni Silva and Mayron. with Pedro Cejas and Timothy Eviparker.
Sliema managed to take the lead on 15 minutes when Mayron, in an attempt to anticipate Vito Plut following a cross by Steve Pisani, headed the ball past goalkeeper Luca Camilleri for an own goal.
On the half hour, the Wanderers doubled the score courtesy of Thiaguinho following a cross by Neil Frendo with Roko Prsa from the right.
Zabbar pulled one back four minutes later when off a corner by Brian Gambarte from the right, Haroun Tchaouna headed home with the ball hitting the crossbar before ending at the back of the net.
Eleven minutes in the second half, substitute Mario Fontanella was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a shot from outside the area.