Victoria Hotspurs underlined their credentials this season after inflicting a heavy 7-0 defeat on Sannat Lions in the Independence Cup final on Monday.
This was the fourth time that the Hotspurs had won this honour, the previous occasion being last year.
The outcome of the first official competition of the new season in Gozo was practically determined during the first stages of the match.
Although there were great expectations of a balanced contest, Victoria completely dominated their opponents as the final scoreline clearly indicates.
Victoria forward Uchenna Anyanwu was the hero for the club from the capital by scoring five of the seven goals.
An early goal, scored after only two minutes by John Paul Grima, paved the way for the Hotspurs' triumph.
Sannat were shocked and Anyanwu scored two goals in quick succession before Eric Nkwankwo made it 4-0 on 25 minutes.
Sannat were stunned and Anyanwu chalked up his hat-trick six minutes from half-time.
The second period was a mere formality although the Hotspurs hardly ever let the Lions take a sniff at their goal. Anyanwu was having a field day and added two more goals to the Hotspurs' tally for a resounding 7-0 victory.
GFA president Alvin Grech presented the Independence Cup to Victoria captain Noel Borg at the end of the match.
Division One
The two matches from the opening day of the Melita Division One championship last weekend ended with close victories for SK Victoria Wanderers and Nadur Youngsters.
The Wanderers had an early attempt by Ige Adesina crashing against the Għajnsielem woodwork but opened the score on 16 minutes through Manwel Cordina.
The Blacks' reaction never came and the Wanderers were again unlucky just before the break when an Adesina shot came off the bar.
With newcomer Thiago Dos Santos coming more into the picture, Għajnsielem started to venture forward more often.
However, the Wanderers were never really threatened and could have scored again from a calibrated Joseph Vella free-kick that hit the upright.
Nadur had a positive start to the new campaign after beating Xewkija Tigers 1-0.
Nadur produced the best scoring opportunities of the first half and took a deserved lead on 28 minutes thanks to Fabiano Bassi who was making his debut for the team.
The Tigers, who paraded new signing Mahmoud Ibrahim Aby, of Egypt, kept Nadur keeper Steve Sultana under pressure in the second half. Sultana distinguished himself with fine saves off Christian Bugeja and Rodney Buttigieg.
Division Two KO
Qala St Joseph beat Oratory Youths 3-1 in the final of the KO for Division Two teams.
At the end of normal time, the score was one-all following goals by Peter Said (Qala) and Alex Sacco (Oratory).
The Maroons were the more enterprising side during extra time and took the lead on 101 minutes through Dennis Abela. Qala made sure of victory with a goal by Mario Mifsud five minutes later.
Għajnsielem 0
SK Victoria Wanderers 1
Cordina 16
Għajnsielem
J. Grech, F. Apap, J. Attard (S. Meilak), T. Dos Santos, J. Buttigieg, R. Cariaga, F. Galea, R. Grima, B. Meilak, K. Mercieca, E. Grima.
SK Victoria Wanderers
A. Parnis, S. Gatt, D. Muscat (K. Azzopardi), A. Williams, D.U. Monday, M. Buttigieg (J. Vella), J. Refalo, C. Sciortino, I. Adesina, A. Adesina, M. Cordina (L. Dimech).
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Xewkija Tigers 0
Nadur Youngsters 1
Bassi 28
Xewkija Tigers
J. Grima, S. Mizzi (M. Xerri), P. Camilleri, J. Vella, J. Cefai, A. Fotso, J. Vella, J. Azzopardi (J. Xerri), M. Ibrahim Aby, C. Bugeja, R. Buttigieg.
Nadur Youngsters
S. Sultana, P. Camilleri, M. Portelli (R. Hili), P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, A. Simoncic, C. Hili, J. Buttigieg, A. Portelli, C. Antunes, F. Bassi (S. Muscat).
Referee: Glenn Tonna