Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways in the Malta Premier League after defeating Żabbar St Patrick 3-2 in an entertaining encounter which saw the Blues take the lead three times.

A brace from Ionuț Sebastian Cojocaru and a late winner from Anthony Limbombe secured three important points for Sliema, despite Żabbar twice fighting back to level the score.

The victory lifted Sliema into fourth place on 14 points, one ahead of Ħamrun Spartans and Mosta and one behind Floriana, who have a game in hand.

Żabbar, meanwhile, remain just four points clear of the bottom two, Gżira United and Birżebbuġa St Peter’s.

The opening stages produced few clear opportunities, although Żabbar threatened in the 12th minute when Henry Bonello turned a Miloš Jović effort behind for a corner following a pass from Jake Micallef.

Sliema responded in the 31st minute when Alexander Satariano unleashed a powerful drive from outside the penalty area. Goalkeeper Patrik Mohorović could only partially save, but Cojocaru’s follow-up was blocked for a corner.

At the other end, Bonello was called into action to save a free-kick from João Mafra, while Brian Gambarte fired over following a Teddy Teuma corner.

The Wanderers eventually broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time when Cojocaru collected a through ball on the left, advanced into the penalty area and beat Mohorović with an angled finish after evading two defenders.

Żabbar emerged strongly after the interval and almost equalised in the 50th minute when Strahinja Jovančić met a cross from Mafra with a powerful header, but Bonello managed to turn the ball onto the crossbar and behind.

Their persistence was rewarded three minutes later when Vinícius Mendonça produced a fine run before releasing Alfredo Agyeman, who beat Bonello with an angled effort to make it 1-1.

However, Sliema needed just four minutes to regain the advantage.

Limbombe delivered an inviting cross from the left and Cojocaru rose to head home his second goal of the afternoon in the 57th minute.

The Romanian forward nearly completed his hat-trick nine minutes later, but his volley from a cross on the right was saved by Mohorović.

Żabbar refused to surrender and were handed an opportunity to equalise in the closing stages following an FVS review of a challenge by Diego Camara on Miloš Jović inside the penalty area.

The referee awarded a penalty and Mario Fontanella converted confidently in the 81st minute to restore parity.

However, the Saints’ celebrations were short-lived as Sliema struck again just three minutes later.

Teuma delivered a corner from the left and Satariano’s header crashed against the crossbar, with Limbombe reacting quickest to fire home the rebound from close range.

The goal proved decisive as Sliema held on to claim a hard-fought victory, strengthening their position in the upper half of the standings while leaving Żabbar searching for valuable points in their battle to move clear of the relegation places.

Żabbar St Patrick 2–3 Sliema Wanderers

Scorers: Alfredo Agyeman 53′, Mario Fontanella 81′ pen (Ż); Ionuț Sebastian Cojocaru 42′, 57′, Anthony Limbombe 84′ (S).