Sliema 2; Naxxar 1;

Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways after defeating Naxxar Lions 2-1 at the National Stadium. The Wanderers took the ground running and after only two minutes they were denied by the woodwork as Pedrinho’s curling drive came off the bar.

The Brazilian missed a sitter four minutes later. Rafael Ledesma picked Alex Muscat on the left and the Sliema wingback charged into the area before lofting the ball over the onrushing Julian Azzopardi and into the path of Pedrinho who fired over in front of a gaping net.

But the Wanderes struck a minute later when from a free-kick action Aidan Friggieri was left unmarked to connect to Pedrinho’s delivery and guide the ball into the net.

Sliema almost added a second on 23 minutes when Gary Muir picked Pedrinho whose shot on the turn was pushed away by Azzopardi.

The Wanderers doubled their advantage 12 minutes from the break. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and Rafael Ledesma curled his shot into the bottom right corner of Azzopardi.

Naxxar got back in the match on 36 minutes when Daren Falzon profited from an indecision by Sliema goalkeeper Entonjo Elezaj to prod the ball into the net.

The Wanderers here pushed more men forward and they almost snatched a third on the stroke of half-time when Pedrinho found the unmarked Friggieri whose first effort was blocked by Azzopardi and from the rebound the nippy striker was again denied by the Naxxar keeper.

Sliema were unlucky not to get a third goal on the hour when Pedrinho’s stinging drive from a free-kick came off the bar with Azzopardi beaten.

The Wanderers had another chance on 80 minutes when Friggieri headed wide with only Azzopardi to beat.

Sliema midfielder Pedrinho was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.