Champions Nadur start with 3-0 win

Qala St Joseph 2
Xaghra United 0

Two goals in the opening 10 minutes saw Qala St Joseph ease past Xaghra United in the first match of the OnVol Division One league.

Stunned by Qala's early flurry, Xaghra tried to fight their way back into the match but their efforts were easily controlled by their opponents.

The Saints needed just three minutes to open the scoring as Xaghra defender Leandro Blanco de Castro deflected into his own net a shot by Andrea Fotso. Dione Lautier increased Qala's lead four minutes later with a low strike.

Xaghra tried to make a reaction but attempts by Josef Agius, Sam Bajada and Josef Bajada were stopped by Qala goalkeeper Aktpan.

Xaghra's best scoring chance came on 78 minutes when Mark Buhagiar fired the ball home but the 'goal' was ruled out for offside.

Qala finished with 10 players after Brian Portelli was shown a second yellow card five minutes from time.

Qala: I. Aktpan, I. Grech, B. Portelli, M. Bonello, G. Cefai, D. Abela, M. Mifsud (C. Portelli), J. Xerri, A. Fotso, D. Lautier (P. Said), C. Attard.

Xaghra: D. Gauci, J. Bartolo, S.F. Bajada, J. Galea, L. Blanco de Castro, M. Buhagiar, C. Buttigieg, J. Attard, J. Agius (A. Bajada), A. Ribic, J. Camilleri (M. Scerri).

Referee: Paul Apap.

Kercem Ajax 1
Victoria Hotspurs 4

Victoria Hotspurs marked their return to the top flight with a resounding victory over Kercem Ajax. It was a fine performance by the Hotspurs who had Brazilian strikers Ricardo Saverino, scorer of a hat-trick, and Fabiano Bassi in top form.

Saverino scored his first goal after 22 minutes and, eight minutes from half-time, he doubled Victoria's advantage.

Kercem's best opportunity in the first half fell to Josef Debrincat who shot weakly from a good position.

After the break, Saverino's header came off the bar but the Brazilian completed his hat-trick with a third goal just two minutes into the second half.

The Ajax pulled a goal back five minutes later through Malcolm Vella.

Victoria put further gloss on their victory on 70 minutes when Bassi made it 4-1.

Victoria substitute Marvin Buttigieg was shown the red card for dissent three minutes from time.

Kercem: C. Mercieca, F. Camilleri, M. Tabone, C. Grech, D. Stojanovic, M. Vella, M. Mamo (J. Grech), M. Stojanovic, J. Debrincat (A. Grech), J.P. Mizzi, S. Grech (J. Mercieca).

Victoria: M. Grima, J.P. Grima, N. Borg, F. Bassi, C. Attard, R. Grech, D. Farrugia, J. Portelli, R. Saverino (S. Xuereb), M. Vella, A. Zammit (M. Buttigieg).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Ghajnsielem 1
Sannat Lions 0

Ghajnsielem turned in a disciplined performance to open their league campaign with a win at the expense of Sannat. The latter were punished for being too wasteful in front of goal.

The first half was balanced with Sannat's best chance falling to Kenneth Mercieca who saw his shot cleared off the line by David Agius. From the rebound, Errol Grima's shot was blocked by Victor Agius.

Sannat paid dearly for this miss. On 32 minutes, Darren Debono anticipated Sannat goalkeeper Demis Bajada and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Sannat came more into the picture in the second half with Mark Muscat, Cristiano de Oliveira and Mercieca going close to restoring parity. Andrade would have put Sannat back on level terms on 67 minutes but for a fine save by Ghajnsielem goalkeeper Agius.

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, B. Meilak, D. Agius (C. Borg), C. Mercieca, R. Apap, J. Buttigieg, S. Azzopardi, F.L. Galea, J. Camilleri (T. Belhaj), J. Attard, D. Debono (S. Vassallo).

Sannat: D. Bajada, M. Muscat, M. Formosa, C. de Oliveira, A. Debono, M. Cutajar, J. Vella, P. Spiteri, K. Mercieca, E. Grima (J. Agius), F. De Andrade.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Nadur Youngsters 3
Qala St Joseph 0

Nadur Youngsters got their title defence off to a winning start after they beat Qala St Joseph 3-0.

During the first half, the two defences were generally on top, making it difficult for the strikers to create scoring opportunities. Qala's best chance came on 31 minutes when Dione Lautier hit wide from a good position.

Nadur gained the upperhand after the interval. Qala's resistance was finally broken on 59 minutes when Erik Nwankwo put the champions ahead. Frank Paul Azzopardi then made it 2-0 on 64 minutes following a fast counter-attack.

Nadur continued to dictate matters before Nwankwo sealed their win with a late goal.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, F.P. Azzopardi (M. Portelli), M. Sacco (K. Mifsud), P. Buttigieg, D. Odovic, J. Buttigieg (S. Muscat), C. Hili, C. Camilleri, E. Nwankwo, A. Portelli, J. Portelli.

Qala: I. Aktpan, P. Camilleri, I. Grech (D. Abela), G. Cefai, J. Xerri, M. Mifsud, M. Bonello, D. Lautier (N. Mizzi), C. Attard, P. Said (C. Caruana), A. Fotso.

Referee: Mario Apap.

SK Victoria W. land Div. Two KO

Gharb Rangers made a positive start in Division Two after they edged Oratory Youths 1-0. The all-important goal arrived on 47 minutes from Stephen Apap.

Zebbug Rovers and St Lawrence Spurs earned a point each after their match ended goalless.

Meanwhile, SK Victoria Wanderers cruised to a 5-1 victory over Zebbug Rovers in the final of the Division II KO competition. It was a deserved victory for the Wanderers, although they played the last 40 minutes of the match with a player more than their opponents and only made sure of their success with three goals in the latter stages.

Victoria opened a two-goal lead through Joseph Vella in the 27th minute and a penalty by Udo David Monday in the 33rd. Zebbug re-opened the issue seconds from half-time through Franco Magrin but in the 50th minute they ended with ten players when Mario Azzopardi was sent off for retaliation.

Victoria took advantage of the extra player and scored two more goals through Adesina to make sure of winning the first honour of the Division Two season. Adesina sealed a personal hat-trick in the 85th minute by converting a penalty for a final 5-1 score.

Next fixtures

Tomorrow: Independence Cup final - 2 p.m. Nadur Y. vs Qala SJ; Division Two - 4 p.m. Xewkija T. vs SK Victoria W.