BoV Premier League highlights

Valletta's first league match for seven weeks saw them grind out a 2-1 victory over eternal rivals Floriana on Saturday.

After their fixture against Qormi had been washed off the previous weekend, Valletta resumed their title defence bid with the derby against the Greens.

Starting the day seven points behind leaders Birkirkara but with two games in hand, the Citizens made a bright start as they surged to a two-goal lead inside the opening 24 minutes thanks to a brace from Ian Zammit.

Floriana got back in the reckoning when Orosco Anonam pulled one back on 28 minutes but they struggled to carve out clearcut openings in the second half as Valletta dug in to gain their third win of the season and dislodge their rivals from third place in the standings.

The Citizens, whose performance on Saturday was efficient but hardly impressive, are now level with Hibs on 13 points, two behind second-placed Sliema and four behind Birkirkara.

On Sunday, Ħamrun finally put an end to their winless run when coming from a goal down to topple Qormi 3-2 in a pulsating match at the Tedesco Stadium.

Diego Cucciardi took centre stage for the Spartans after hitting a brace, his second goal two minutes from time giving his team their first win in eight matches.

Dylan Kokavessis scored a minute short of the hour after Ivan Da Silva had put Qormi ahead early in the second half.

Midfielder Massimo Grima was also on target for Qormi but his goal counted for nothing as the Spartans had the final say through Cucciardi. Qormi's Chucks Nwoko was red-carded late in the match.

Sunday's opening game produced two goals and three red cards as Msida St Joseph and Marsaxlokk shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Andre Rocha Da Silva fired Msida ahead on the hour but Julio Alcorse rescued a point for Marsaxlokk when converting a penalty.

Msida's Tyrone Farrugia was shown a straight red after committing the foul that led to Marsaxlokk's penalty while the latter had defenders Brian Said and Stephen Wellman sent off for two yellow cards.

Statistics

Scorers, red cards

Birkirkara: Mifsud Triganza 3; Galea 3; Buhagiar 2; Mallia 2; Tabone (pen), Bajada, Fenech, Hartvig. Red card - Bajada (vs Marsaxlokk).

Floriana: Anonam 4; M. Briffa, Madzar, Brincat (penalty), Darmanin. Red cards - Bugeja (vs Ħamrun), Caruana (vs Valletta).

Ħamrun: Cucciardi 3; Spiteri 2, Kokavessis 2; Ortega (penalty), Micallef. Red cards - Spiteri (vs Floriana), Spiteri (vs Msida).

HIbernians: Scerri 5; Galabov 2, Failla 2, J. Caruana 2, Farrugia 2; Grech, Callejas, Pulis, Cohen (penalty). Own goals - Micallef (vs Ħamrun); Bonnici (vs Ħamrun); Red card - Mbongo (vs Valletta).

Marsaxlokk: Pereira 3, Alcorse 3 (1 pen); Licari 2 (1 pen); Said, Mattocks, Barbara. Red cards - Camenzuli (vs Birkirkara), Said, Wellman (vs Msida SJ).

Msida: Calcado 6 (1 pen.); Aurellio 4; Magro, T. Farrugia, Da Silva. Red cards - Da Silva (vs Ħamrun), T. Farrugia (vs Marsaxlokk).

Qormi: Effiong 3, Da Silva 3; Farrugia, Grima. Red cards - Chetcuti (vs Hibernians), Nwoko (vs Ħamrun).

Sliema: Woods 4 (1 pen.); Bjedov 3; Bajada 2; Severino, Azzopardi, Nisevic, Briffa, Muscat. Red card - Bjedov (vs Ħamrun).

Tarxien: Bueno 8; Chircop. Red cards - Carapic, Decesare (vs Qormi).

Valletta: Priso 5 (2 pens.); Falzon 2, G. Agius 2, Zammit 2; Tolomeotti.

Next fixtures

Saturday (National Stadium): 2 p.m. Floriana vs Tarxien Rainbows; 4 p.m. Valletta vs Ħamrun Spartans.

Sunday (Hibs Ground): 1 p.m. Qormi vs Sliema; 3 p.m. Msida vs Hibs.