Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk missed the chance to make significant progress in the race for a Top Six spot after battling to a 1-1 draw at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

It was a match of two contrasting halves. Sliema dominated the opening 45 minutes, taking a deserved lead and creating several chances to extend their advantage. But Marsaxlokk came out rejuvenated after the interval, producing a spirited comeback that earned them a well-merited equaliser.

The result leaves Sliema level on 15 points with third-placed Ħamrun Spartans, while Marsaxlokk move up to 14 points, joining Hibernians in sixth place — one point clear of Birkirkara.

Sliema started brightly and came close on 10 minutes when Roko Prša’s curling free-kick beat goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi but struck the crossbar. The Wanderers had the ball in the net shortly after through Etienne Plut, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Their pressure finally paid off on 33 minutes when Marsaxlokk lost possession from a throw-in. Plut pounced to set up Sulahmana Bah, who drilled a low shot into the corner to give Sliema a deserved 1-0 lead. Five minutes before the break, Mafoumbi produced an excellent save to tip over Wesley’s free-kick.

Marsaxlokk improved markedly after the restart. Ulises Arias tested Kelvin Agu with a powerful strike on 56 minutes before being denied again by the Sliema goalkeeper following a clever assist from El Hasni.

Sliema thought they had doubled their advantage on 70 minutes when Bah’s effort rebounded off Mafoumbi and into the net via Plut, but once again, the assistant’s flag cut short their celebrations.

Marsaxlokk capitalised soon after, equalising on 72 minutes. Arias found Dodo in space, and the Brazilian midfielder rifled a superb volley past Agu to make it 1-1.

Arias almost completed the turnaround five minutes from time when he dispossessed a defender on the edge of the box, but Agu came to Sliema’s rescue once more with a fine save to preserve the draw.