ZABBAR, Malta (Interstat) — Ionut Cojocaru scored twice and Sliema held off Zabbar 3-2 on Wednesday, using a pair of second-half goals to answer Zabbar’s challenge and secure the league victory. Sliema moved to 4-3-2 in the competition and across all competitions. Zabbar fell to 2-5-2 in the competition and across all competitions. The result kept Sliema’s season record identical in league and overall play, while Zabbar’s record also remained the same across the competition and all competitions. Sliema’s victory came after a stretch of uneven results, and Zabbar remained on the same record in competition and overall play after another tight match. Sliema’s three goals came through Cojocaru’s brace and Limbombe’s second-half strike, while Zabbar answered through Agyeman and Fontanella.

Cojocaru opened the scoring in the 42nd minute and added his second in the 57th. He played the full match and was Sliema’s top attacking threat. Alfredo Agyeman scored for Zabbar in the 54th and also played the full match. Anthony Limbombe scored in the 84th minute for Sliema before being substituted in the 88th. Mario Fontanella scored for Zabbar in a 23-minute appearance. The goals gave Sliema a 3-2 win despite Zabbar’s two scores, with Cojocaru’s brace providing the decisive advantage. Limbombe’s late goal gave Sliema enough separation to withstand Zabbar’s reply. Cojocaru’s first goal put Sliema ahead shortly before halftime, and his second restored the lead after Agyeman’s equalizer. Agyeman’s goal briefly leveled the match before Cojocaru restored Sliema’s lead three minutes later. Limbombe’s finish in the 84th minute extended Sliema’s cushion late in the second half.

Zabbar was shown four yellow cards, while Sliema received two. Joao Mafra was booked in the 19th minute. Jovancic S. was booked in first-half stoppage time, Jovicic M. in the 55th and an unnamed Zabbar player in the 67th. Sliema’s Camara D. was booked in the 72nd, and an unnamed Sliema player was booked in the 80th. Joao Mafra was replaced in the 58th minute. Zabbar made a double substitution in the 67th, bringing on Melillo T. and Vinicius Kanu. Sliema sent on Alli W. M. in the 73rd, and Zabbar brought on Gouhon P. F. in the same minute. Camara D. was substituted in the 85th, and Limbombe came off in the 88th. The match featured six yellow cards and seven substitutions in total. Zabbar used substitutions in the 58th, 67th and 73rd minutes as it sought to change the match, while Sliema made changes in the 73rd, 85th and 88th minutes.

Sliema entered the match after a loss at Valletta and a draw with Gzira. Earlier in the season, Sliema drew at Balzan, won at Mosta, beat Birkirkara at home, won at Birzebbuga, lost at Floriana and lost at home to Hibernians. Zabbar entered after a win at Balzan and a loss at Marsaxlokk FC. Earlier, Zabbar lost at home to Birkirkara, drew at Gzira, lost at home to Hamrun, drew at Hibernians, won at home against Birzebbuga and lost at Valletta. Both teams will return to league play with their competition and overall records unchanged. Sliema’s next schedule includes a trip to Marsaxlokk FC, a home match against Marsaxlokk FC and a home game against Hamrun. Zabbar’s next matches are at home against Floriana and at home against Mosta.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Zabbar 1, Sliema 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Zabbar with a 56 percent probability to win. Sliema had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 2.5.