Mqabba 0 Sliema 2

Two goals from Jorge Santos Silva enabled the Blues to overcome a dogged Mqabba side.

The 2-0 scoreline may paint a picture of a one-way traffic encounter but in reality, Sliema must consider themselves fortunate to win the game.

They nevertheless scored twice and found in Jorge Santos Silva a new hero and with Roderick Bajada, Danail Mitev and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza all influential against Mqabba, there is every reason to believe that they have the nucleus of a side that is capable of firing them in the championship pool and beyond.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza could have got the Wanderers off to a flyer inside the first ten minutes, only for his first-time shot from 20 metres out dropping just wide of an open net, but it was not long before the deadlock was broken and the former Birkirkara striker was again involved.

In fact, after 13 minutes, Mifsud Triganza sent over a fine cross from the left flank with the outside of his right foot and Jorge Santos Silva met it with a stunning volley to find the back of the net.

Mqabba could have felt hard done by going into the break a goal down. Clive Mizzi's team continued their pursuit of an equaliser after the interval.

Mqabba enjoyed a decent share of the possession; creating problems for Danilo Doncic's side but Sliema were marginally more incisive when Mifsud Triganza remained a genuine threat to Mqabba's Kris Calleja, who made a fine save from his save on 56 minutes.

In the 67th minute, Calleja pulled off a fine save as he threw himself at the feet of Mitev to block the attempt.

The game appeared to be going Mqabba's way before Sliema struck again thanks to the precocious talent of Jorge Santos. The Brazilian picked up the ball from Roderick Bajada from the edge of the box before finding the net with a fine curling strike.

The goal took the sting out of the game but Jorge Silva could have completed his hat-trick after 81 minutes but his control let him down at the crucial point.