Sannat, Nadur through as season kicks off

The new season in Gozo started with cup ties from the Independence Cup and the Division Two knock-out competitions last weekend.

All matches were played on the new artificial turf pitch of the Sannat Ground which was inaugurated earlier this summer.

All teams, except for last season's winners of the two competitions, Victoria Hotspurs and Xagħra United respectively, were involved in this first round of matches.

Sannat Lions, the league champions, and Nadur Youngsters both booked their place in the semi-finals following extra-time victories.

Nadur vs Għajnsielem was undoubtedly the main match of the weekend, mainly due to the debut of four foreign players, two on each side.

English striker Kyle Russell and Claudio Antunes, from Brazil, both marked their debut for Nadur Youngsters with goals.

On the other hand, Għajnsielem's new Argentine midfielder Rodrigo Cariaga (ex-Tarxien) and striker Marcos Aurelio (ex-Msida St Joseph) had a rather quiet outing.

The match finished goalless in regular time but in the opening minutes of extra-time, the Youngsters went ahead thanks to a penalty converted by Antunes.

Nadur doubled their lead with a Russell goal three minutes from the end and Josef Buttigieg made it 3-0 seconds from the final whistle.

Sannat's match against Kerċem Ajax produced eight goals.

Milos Stojanovic fired the Ajax ahead but Sannat turned the result in their favour with a Fernando de Andrade hat-trick.

Just before half-time, Kerċem reduced the arrears with a goal by Manuel Tabone and Stojanovic levelled matters soon after the restart.

There were no more goals until the 90th minute but in extra-time Sannat scored twice, through John Camilleri and De Andrade, to seal their place in the semi-finals.

In another Independence Cup quarter-final, SK Victoria Wanderers pulled off a convincing 4-1 victory over newly-promoted Xewkija Tigers.

The Wanderers opened a 2-0 lead in the first half following goals from Manuel Cordina and a David Udo Monday penalty.

Monday put away a second penalty early in the second half and Xewkija narrowed the gap with a Rodney Buttigieg goal.

Ige Adesina made sure of Victoria's qualification with a late goal.

The Wanderers play against city rivals Hotspurs on Sunday.

Qala St Joseph produced the best performance of the six teams in the Sportika Division II KO as they registered a 2-0 victory over Għarb Rangers.

Żebbuġ Rovers obtained a close 1-0 win over St Lawrence Spurs while Oratory Youths made it to the semi-finals following a 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Munxar Falcons after a one-all draw.