Sliema edge Tarxien, Żabbar and Naxxar share points in YoHealth Malta Premier MD3

Sliema Wanderers 1-0 Tarxien Rainbows

Sliema Wanderers secured a narrow 1-0 victory over newly promoted Tarxien Rainbows in the third round of the YoHealth Malta Premier, thanks to an early header from Murillo Henrique.

The match started perfectly for Sliema when, in the 4th minute, Henrique rose highest to meet a corner from the right, directing a powerful header past goalkeeper Andrea Cassar. Despite dominating possession early on, the Wanderers struggled to create clear chances, while Tarxien stayed organized and looked for opportunities on the counterattack.

Sliema nearly doubled their lead in the 34th minute, but Adam Magri Overend’s shot was tipped wide by Cassar. Substitute Myles Beerman also came close late in the second half, forcing another excellent save.

Tarxien pushed for an equalizer, with Jonata De Oliveira Bastos testing Rashed Al Tumi in the 83rd minute, but the Maltese international was equal to the challenge. Deep into stoppage time, Wallisson Dantas Dos Santos had one final effort for the Rainbows, but his shot sailed over the bar.

With the win, Sliema move to six points, level with Marsaxlokk in third place, while Tarxien remain on one point, earned against champions Ħamrun Spartans on opening day.

Żabbar St Patrick 1-1 Naxxar Lions

Żabbar St Patrick and Naxxar Lions battled to a 1-1 draw in a closely contested encounter, giving Naxxar their first point of the season.

Naxxar struck first in the 9th minute when Gustavo Felipe Goncalves fired home a powerful shot from central position, leaving goalkeeper Luca Camilleri helpless. Żabbar responded ten minutes later when Mario Fontanella delivered a low cross from the left for Toni Brito e Silva to turn the ball into the net.

Both sides created chances before halftime, but neither could find a breakthrough. In the second half, Żabbar threatened through set-pieces, notably when Kean Scicluna’s header was well saved by Matthias Debono in the 58th minute.

Naxxar made a triple substitution on the 71st minute in search of a winner, and substitute Kayne Haber tested Camilleri from distance late on, but the Żabbar keeper held firm. The match ended level, with both teams sharing the spoils after a physical battle.

Match Statistics

Sliema Wanderers 1-0 Tarxien Rainbows

• Scorer: Henrique 4’ (Sliema)

• Referee: Emanuel Grech

• Player of the Match: Adam Magri Overend (Sliema)

Sliema Wanderers XI:
R. Al Tumi, J. Borg, N. Frendo (77’ G. Alcino), A. Magri Overend, V. Plut (77’ K. Nwoko), R. Prsa, M. Henrique, S. Pisani (C) (68’ M. Beerman), T. Espindola De Paula, J. Fernando Gomes Junior (68’ B. Diarra), M. Baggio (68’ M. Bah)

Tarxien Rainbows XI:
A. Cassar (C), W. Salomao Filipe, T. Conceicao Santos (86’ K. Donsu), O. Leal De Barros, J. De Oliveira Bastos, C. Henrique Da Silva Barbosa (39’ W. Dantas Dos Santos), G. Vella (57’ N. Ofufu Ibeh), N. Da Silva Rosa, R. Azevedo Tavares, A. Vella (86’ K. Gatt), M. Grima

Żabbar St Patrick 1-1 Naxxar Lions

• Scorers: Silva 19’ (Żabbar), Goncalves 9’ (Naxxar)

• Referee: Fyodor Zammit

• Player of the Match: Mario Fontanella (Żabbar)

Żabbar St Patrick XI:
L. Camilleri (GK), P. Santiago Cejas, B. Ariel Gambarte (C), N. J. Agius (67’ A. Dumbuya), J. Micallef, S. Jovancic, Z. Leonardi (89’ I. Etim Akpan), V. De Paiva, T. Brito E Silva (78’ J. Pisani), K. Scicluna, M. Fontanella

Naxxar Lions XI:
M. Debono (GK), G. F. De Campos Goncalves, N. Pace Cocks (C) (50’ YC, 71’ E. C. Farias), A. S. Firmino (71’ J. J. H. Reyes), J. V. Souza Dos Santos (89’ T. S. Kruger), M. M. Silva Batista (52’ M. Fenech), C. Gauci, R. Pereira Da Silva (71’ K. Haber), C. C. Kontchou Nganmini, V. F. De Jesus, J. V. Moura Cardoso