Hibernians beat Sliema Wanderers 2-0 in the first regular-season fixture of the Maltese Premier League on Saturday evening. The visitors took all three points at the Stade National in Valletta, moving to seventh in the table with four points from four games.
Sliema started brighter and should have taken the lead early. T. Teuma stepped up to take a penalty in the fifth minute but missed his spot-kick, a chance that could have changed the shape of the first half. Hibernians held firm and broke on the counter, with B. Druga finding the net in the 29th minute.
By then the match had settled into a rhythm that suited the away side. Sliema kept possession but struggled to convert their dominance into clear-cut opportunities. They registered four shots on target compared to Hibernians' five, yet only one of those on target found the back of the net.
The second half belonged to Hibernians. F. Jankovic arrived to score twice in quick succession, striking in the 73rd and 74th minutes to kill the contest. He was then substituted in the 81st minute, a timely change given the momentum had shifted entirely.
And here's the thing about the statistics — Sliema controlled 64 per cent of possession and made 66 attacks, but that territory did not translate into goals. Hibernians managed with less ball but were more efficient, converting five shots on target into two goals while Sliema could only manage one from four attempts.
The result leaves Sliema in ninth place with three points from three matches, one win and two defeats. Hibernians move up to seventh with four points, a win, a draw and two losses. The gap between them remains narrow, but the visitors have now won all three of their away fixtures this season.