BoV Premier League highlights

Surprise package Qormi are still on the crest of a wave after retaining sole leadership in the Premier League standings last weekend.

The Yellows did well to save their status last season but this time round, Jesmond Zerafa's team are doing much better. For the first time in their history, Qormi are top of the Premier League after every team has played eight matches.

Last Friday, Brazilian Camilo again led Qormi's charge in a 4-1 romp over lowly Dingli Swallows. He scored twice with the other goals for the winners coming from Massimo Grima and Alfred Effiong.

Champions Hibs and Valletta are snapping at the heels of Qormi in the standings but they were made to fight hard to clinch all three points at the expense of Tarxien Rainbows and Ħamrun Spartans respectively.

The Paolites, again without several regulars, scored two late goals through Andrew Cohen, from a penalty, and Adrian Pulis to cancel out Anderson Ribeiro's opener for the Rainbows.

For the second match in a row, Valletta squandered a two-goal lead before netting the winner from a penalty midway through the second half.

A header from Jordi Cruyff and a Doding Priso penalty gave the Citizens an early lead but the Spartans fought back bravely to level matters by half-time thanks to a brace from Marcelo Pereira.

The City fans became restless and booed their team at half-time but Priso converted a second penalty on 63 minutes to somewhat ease the tension and put Valletta back to winning ways after their 2-2 draw with Tarxien Rainbows.

On Sunday, Birkirkara joined Hibs in third place on 16 points with a clear 4-1 victory over Msida even though the Stripes had to fight back from a goal down following Emiliano Lattes's goal after four minutes.

Goals from Trevor Cilia, Sylvano Comvalius, Shaun Bajada and Angus Buhagiar secured Birkirkara's fifth victory of the season.

The spoils were shared in the Old Firm clash as Floriana striker Sunday Akanni-Wasiu cancelled Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's goal for Sliema Wanderers.

Sliema, who had Clifford Gatt Baldacchino red-carded for his antics during his team's goal celebrations, are in sixth place, just one point ahead of Tarxien.

Unless they lift their game by a few notches, the Blues risk becoming embroiled in a tussle to secure a slot in the Championship Pool after the first two rounds are played. The Greens are two points ahead of Sliema in fifth place.

Statistics

Birkirkara: Galea 4, Comvalius 4; Mallia 2, Cilia 3; Fenech, Pulo, Bajada, Buhagiar. Red card: Paris (vs Hibs).

Dingli Swallows: Okonkwo 6 (2 pens). Own goal - Tabone (vs Birkirkara). Red card: Fiteni (vs Ħamrun).

Floriana: Wasiu 3; Anonam, Simmonds, Caruana, Ciantar, Darmanin. Own goal - Herrera (vs Hibs) Red card - J. Briffa (vs Hibs).

Ħamrun Spartans: Pereira 4 (1 pen.); Spiteri 3; Fenech, Mawete. Red cards - Micallef (vs Birkirkara), Pereira (vs Floriana).

Hibernians: Malasenoks 4; Galabov 2, Herrera 2; J. Caruana, Cauchi, Barbara, Cohen (pen.), Pulis. Own goals - Conceicao (vs Dingli), Fenech (vs Ħamrun). Red cards: Grech (vs Msida SJ), Muscat (vs Tarxien).

Msida SJ: Aganun, Spiteri, T. Farrugia, Lattes.

Qormi: Camilo 11; Effiong 2, Grima 2; Chetcuti.

Sliema: Mifsud Triganza 4; Bartolo 2; Dronca (pen), Failla, Isaac, Mintoff. Own goal - T. Farrugia (vs Msida). Red card - Gatt Baldacchino (vs Floriana).

Tarxien Rainbows: Ribeiro 6; Denni 3; Calabretta 2; Shead, Everton. Red card -Ribeiro (vs Dingli).

Valletta: Scerri 5, Priso 5 (3 pens); Pace 2, Cruyff 2; Den Ouden, Zammit, Sammut.

Next fixtures: Anniversary Cup - Fourth round

Friday: Centenary Stadium - 6 p.m. Naxxar Lions vs Lija Athletic; 8 p.m. Valletta vs Gozo (third round).

Saturday: National Stadium - 2 p.m. Sliema vs St Patrick; 4 p.m. Hibernians vs Marsaxlokk.

Sunday: Tedesco Stadium - 9 a.m. Għargħur vs Mosta; 11 a.m. Mellieħa vs Ħamrun Spartans. Hibs Ground - 1.30 p.m. Floriana vs Melita; 3.30 p.m. Balzan Youths vs Tarxien Rainbows.