Cojocaru Super-Sub Debut Hands Sliema Wanderers First Victory Over Birżebbuġa

Sliema Wanderers got their VBET Malta Premier League campaign up and running on Sunday evening, securing a hard-fought 2–1 victory over newly-promoted Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s. Having both lost their opening two league fixtures, both sides entered the encounter desperate for points, but a stunning debut strike from substitute Ionuț Cojocaru ultimately made the difference for Branko Nisevic’s team.

Sliema Strike First After VAR Drama

The opening half-hour saw Birżebbuġa show plenty of early intent, testing Henry Bonello from distance through Alex Bruno and Yuri Messias. Sliema nearly took the lead when Musa Alli struck the woodwork, but the main talking point of the first half arrived on 22 minutes when Gustavo Alcino was initially shown a straight red card—only for the decision to be downgraded to a yellow following a Football Video Support (FVS) review.

• 34th Minute (1–0): Sliema broke the deadlock following a fluid passing combination involving Teddy Teuma and Alex Satariano. Nigel Robertha controlled the ball on the left side of the penalty area and delivered a low cross across the face of goal, allowing Musa Alli to tap in from close range.

Historic Equalizer and Cojocaru’s Winner

Birżebbuġa brought increased intensity into the second half and pushed Sliema deep into their defensive box.

• 55th Minute (1–1): The Saints’ persistence produced a landmark moment in their club history. Alex Bruno delivered an accurate cross from the left flank, finding Yuri Messias, who finished past Bonello to score Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s maiden top-flight goal.

Sliema responded instantly, almost scoring straight from the kick-off when Steve Pisani struck the post. Branko Nisevic made tactical changes, introducing new signing Ionuț Cojocaru off the bench.

• 61st Minute (2–1): Just minutes into his Sliema debut, Ionuț Cojocaru picked up the ball on the left channel and unleashed a thunderous long-range strike that flew past goalkeeper Mattia Chiesa into the far corner.

Match Details & Summary

Key Takeaway

While Birżebbuġa showed immense grit and made history with their first Maltese Premier League goal, Sliema’s individual quality and bench depth proved decisive as they secured three vital points to kickstart their league campaign.