Zabbar St. Patrick returned to winning ways as they came from behind to beat Balzan 2-1 in a match from the VBET Malta Premier Opening Round league phase at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Saturday.
This first win since the appointment of Adolfo Sormani as coach enables Zabbar to leapfrog Hibernians and move to just two points behind the same Balzan and Birkirkara, two points ahead of the Paolites.
Balzan managed to take the lead on 6 minutes when Eder intercepted a back pass by Karlo Brucic for goalkeeper Mohorovic and after having an attempt blocked, Valentino Yuel placed the ball at the back of the net.
However Zabbar equalised on 26 minutes when Joao Mafra served Milos Jovicic on the left and the latter beat goalkeeper Dylan Ciappara.
Yuel was unlucky to have a shot from the edge of the area hitting the posts twice before behind cleared into safety and after Zabbar had a Jake Micallef attempt cleared off the gaol line, Balzan threatened once again just before half-time Leo Fernandes hit the crossbar with a crosshot from the right.
Zabbar notched the winner on 76 minutes when off an assist by Nicolas Lancioni from the right, Vinicius Kanu beat goalkeeper Dylan Ciappara.
Balzan ended in ten men as Oluwatobiloba Awosanya was sent off one minute from time for kicking Joao Mafra in the face.