Second-half goals see Xagħra through

Xagħra United 3
A. Bajada 47; E. Bezzina 54; M. Buhagiar 68
Oratory Youths 0

Xagħra started their Division Two campaign on a positive note. This KO victory was a deserved success for them and many expect the Blues to make a quick return to the top flight this season.

Oratory produced a stiff challenge in the opening half but they could not keep up the same rhythm after the break and conceded three goals.

Oratory went close first when from a Charles Xuereb free-kick Francesco Cini failed to connect from an ideal position.

Xagħra hit back with a Joseph Sultana flick but keeper Franklin Vella was well placed to save.

At the other end, Marvin Sultana was alert to stop a Cini free-kick.

However, the Blues had an excellent start to the second half and opened the score after only two minutes from the restart when an Anthony Bajada free-kick surprised Vella in the Oratory goal.

Sultana did well to stop Cini's shot soon after but Xagħra imposed their superiority and on 54 minutes it was 2-0 thanks to an Emmanuel Bezzina goal.

Oratory were lost and after an Anthony Bajada effort hit Vella's crossbar, Mark Buhagiar was on the right spot to hit home from a corner to make it 3-0 on 68 minutes.

That goal took the fight off Oratory as the Blues cantered home to victory.

GFA president Alvin Grech presented the Powerade KO trophy to Xagħra captain Josef Bartolo at the end of the match.