Watch: First-half goals see Sliema Wanderers through against battling Żabbar SP

ŻABBAR SP 1

Tchauna 33

SLIEMA WANDERERS 2

Mayron 15og; Espindola 30

ŻABBAR ST PATRICK

L. Camilleri, A. Dumbuya, H. Tchauna (67 C. Santiago), B. Gambarte, N. Agius (62 K. Scicluna), J. Micallef(90 W. Akpam), S. Jovancic, Z. Leonardi( 67 T. Eviparker), V. De Paiva, T. Brito (46 M. Fontanella), Mayron.

SLIEMA WANDERERS

R. Al Tumi, J. Borg, N, Frendo, A. Magri Overand, V. Plut (76 K, Nwoko), L. Montebello (62 M. Sulahmana), R. Prsa (87 B. Diarra), H. Murilo, S. Pisani, T. Espindola (76 M. Beerman), M. Baggio

Referee: Alex Johnson.

Yellow card: Dumbuya, Pisani

Two first half goals gave Sliema Wanderers a hard-fought win over Żabbar.

The Blues took a 15th-minute through a Mayron own goal and Thiago Espindola then grabbed his first goal with the Sliema colours.

Żabbar pulled one back just before half-time, and they were the better side in the second half, coming close to equalising, but Mario Fontanella volleyed against the bar, and Tchauna could not direct the ball goalwards.

Early signs of nervousness in the Żabbar defence were confirmed in the first quarter of the hour when Mayron committed an own goal with a backward header that caught Luca Camilleri unawares.  

Steve Pisani had a dipping long punt towards Vito Plut deflected by the Brazilian defender, and sailed past the Żabbar goalkeeper.

The Wanderers sent out in their usual 3-5-2 formation with Adam Magri Overand and Espindola detailed to push high up the flanks as they strove to press home their superiority.

On the half hour mark, Sliema were again quick to break forward when Neil Frendo drifted from the right and freed Espindola, who evaded Zean Leonardi and hit a grounder behind Camilleri.

Żabbar’s display until Sliema’s second goal did not merit a goal, but they found the net when Rashid El Tumi flapped as he tried to clear a corner by Brian Gambarte, with Haroun Tchauna heading the ball home via the underside of the bar.

Sliema had barely time to register the goal conceded before Żabbar were pushing hard again and Tchauna hit a header just wide.

The tempo of the match swung firmly in Żabbar’s favour and substitute Fontanella, who was brought in by Aniello Parisi during half-time, almost had an immediate impact on the match.

The former Floriana and Valletta striker won an aerial challenge with Neil Frendo and hit a swerving shot that left Al Tumi for dead, but it crashed against the crossbar.

By now Żabbar were rampant and Sliema had lost their tactical shape.

Tchauna picked up the ball, won another duel with Frendo, and launched a devastating attack, rounding the onrushing goalkeeper, but failed to conclude goalwards.

In the end, Sliema held on to take the first three points of the season.