BoV Premier League highlights

Valletta have opened a three-point lead at the summit of the Premier League after handing fellow pace-setters Qormi their first defeat of the season on Monday.

Second-half goals from Kevin Sammut and Jamie Pace earned Valletta a deserved 2-0 victory and stretched their unbeaten start to five matches. The Citizens have 13 points from five matches, three more than Qormi and Birkirkara.

On Sunday, Birkirkara produced a remarkable fightback to salvage a point in a two-all draw with Hibernians.

The champions led 2-0 with only six minutes of normal time remaining thanks to goals from Rumen Galabov and Oleg Malasenoks.

Birkirkara had missed an early penalty when Sylvano Comvalius's shot was blocked by Mario Muscat and suffered a further blow when Thomas Paris was red-carded on 62 minutes for two yellow cards but the Stripes stunned their opponents with a late two-goal surge.

After Trevor Cilia pulled one back on 84 minutes, substitute Karl Pulo crowned Birkirkara's fightback with a well-taken equaliser four minutes from time.

Sliema Wanderers lifted the gloom caused by their 3-1 loss to Tarxien after they hammered Ħamrun Spartans 5-0. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza scored a hat-trick with Matthew Bartolo and Clayton Failla getting the other goals for the under-fire Blues.

Ħamrun are the only team with zero points in the top flight after Dingli Swallows opened their account with a 2-1 win over Floriana. Nigerian striker Joseph Okonkwo hit a brace for the Swallows while Sunday-Akanni Wasiu scored Floriana's goal.

Msida St Joseph obtained their second point of the season after holding Tarxien Rainbows to a one-all draw.

Brazilian midfielder Denni fired Tarxien ahead 10 minutes from half-time but Olushola Aganun levelled for Msida with 11 minutes left.

Statistics

Scorers

Birkirkara: Galea 3; Comvalius 2; Mallia 2; Fenech, Cilia, Pulo. Red card: Paris (vs Hibs). Missed penalty: Comvalius (vs Hibs).

Dingli Swallows: Okonkwo 4 (1 pen). Own goal - Tabone (vs Birkirkara).

Floriana: Wasiu 2; Anonam, Simmonds.

Ħamrun Saprtans: Spiteri 2; Pereira. Red cards - Micallef (vs Birkirkara), Pereira (vs Floriana).

Hibernians: Galabov 2; J. Caruana, Cauchi, Herrera, Barbara, Malasenoks. Own goals - Conceicao (vs Dingli), Fenech (vs Ħamrun).

Qormi: Camilo 7; Chetcuti.

Tarxien Rainbows: Ribeiro 3, Denni 3; Shead, Calabretta, Everton. Red card: Ribeiro (vs Dingli).

Valletta: Scerri 5; Priso 2 (1 pen); Cruyff, Den Ouden, Zammit, Sammut, Pace.

Next fixtures

National Stadium

Friday: 19.30 Valletta vs Hibs.

Saturday: 15.00 Ħamrun vs Msida; 17.00 Birkirkara vs Floriana.

Sunday: 15.00 Dingli vs Sliema; 17.00 Tarxien vs Qormi.