Sliema Wanderers registered a second successive win as they beat Birkirkara 2-1 in a match from the VBET Malta Premier Opening Round league phase at the Centenary Stadium on Sunday.
The Blues therefore join Birkirkara in mid-table on six points as the Stripes suffer a second consecutive defeat after claiming maximum points from their first two matches.
Coach Branko Nisevic opted for one change from the team which defeated Birzebbuga as Ionut Cojocaru was preferred to Luke Montebello. Paul Zammit, on the other hand, made three changes as Jefferson Vinicius, Aleksandar Djordjevic and Fernandinho made way for Rafa Santos Shaft Brewer and Pablo Gabriel.
Sliema Wanderers managed to take the lead on 35 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Alex Satariano was brought down inside the area by Kadu and Nikolaos Karelis converted from the penalty spot.
The Wanderers doubled the score eight minutes in the second half when Teddy Teuma provided Ionut Cojocaru with an assist and the Romanian beat goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa with an angled shot from the right which hit the crossbar before ending at the back of the net.
Birkirkara pulled one back nine minutes from time thanks to Fernandinho whose powerful shot from the left beat goalkeeper Henry Bonello.