Vittoriosa 4
Lija Athletic 0

Vittoriosa Stars opened their Division One campaign in some style as they cruised past Lija Athletic in a one-sided encounter at the Centenary Stadium.

The Cottonera side never stopped running and dominated midfield to an extent that they saw more of the ball and never stopped chasing when losing possession. Their level of fitness looks excellent.

Although it is still early days, they should be considered as prime contenders for a quick return with the big boys.

It was Lija who came close as early as the sixth minute when Erjon Beu tried his luck with a shot on the turn with the ball finishing just over.

But it was Vittoriosa who forged ahead on 10 minutes when Tassid Lopes Fererira played a magnificent ball to Marcelo Pereria who was too fast for the Lija rearguard and slotted the ball past Joswel Caruana.

In the 17th minute, it had to be Caruana who came quickly off his line to clear after Pereira was again through following an Adam Spiteri pass. The Lija keeper again saved his team when he pushed away Josef Dalli’s shot.

Vittoriosa made it 2-0 on 32 minutes. Caruana was punished for handling the ball outside the area and from the ensuing free-kick when Lija Lopes Fereira blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

On the stroke of half-time Lija were thwarted by goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella who tipped over a Beu free-kick.

Vittoriosa added a third goal on 68 minutes when Lopes Fereira was set up by Spiteri to slice the ball home from close-range.

The Stars wrapped the points on 78 minutes when Spiteri blasted the ball home after another slick move.

Vittoriosa Stars: J.M. Vella; J. Camilleri, B. Bonnici (J. Spiteri), S. Tellus, M. Barbara (M. Buttigieg), T. Lopes Fereria, M. Pereria, L. Scerri, L. Rocha Do Santos, A. Spiteri, J. Dalli (R. Sell).

Lija Athletic: J. Caruana; C. Giordmaina (J.P. Scerri), B. Camilleri, D. Scerri, E. Beu, K. Darmanin, B. Fenech, A. Scicluna, C. Ciantar, M. Camilleri (T. Caruana), A. Ige Adesina.

Referee: Glenn Tonna

Man of the match: Marcelo Pereria (Vittoriosa).

Birżebbuġa 3
Melita 2

Newly-promoted Birżebbuġa gave a clear indication that they could be one of the positive surprises of the season when they edged Melita in a balanced encounter at the Centenary Stadium.

Melita, who last year were a whisker away from promotion to the Premier League started very well spraying the ball well and practically dominating the proceedings.

But it was Birżebbuġa who should have gone ahead as early as the third minute when Ronnie Celeste drove the ball wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Melita replied three minutes later when Manwel Sierra Camacho flicked the ball just over following a Cornago San Pedro free-kick.

With Marin Gregory’s side still pushing men forward it was no surprise that on 22 minutes Nicolò Baldacchino nipped in to head home a Julian Galea cross.

Melita’s joy was shortlived though as on the half hour Birżebbuġa were given a penalty after Matthias Fenech fouled Mead Mifsud in the box. Matthew Sciortino duly converted from the spot.

Now it was Joe Gerada’s side who started to dominate the proceedings and on 43 minutes a bad clearance by the Melita rearguard saw the ball falling invitingly to Ronnie Celeste who with only the goalkeeper to beat was foiled by Matthew Sapiano.

From the resulting corner, Sapiano punched badly with the ball finishing in the path of Mead Mifsud who blasted home.

Melita came close to an equaliser after the interval when Dejan Erak’s header was kept out by Ivan Casha.

Birżebbuġa put the game to bed on 79 minutes when Celeste slotted the ball home from close range. Melita continued to push more men forward and deep into injury time they were awarded a penalty when Frantisek Sneider floored Julian Galea. But Kane Micallef’s drive was saved by Casha.

The Amateurs still managed to reduce the arrears on 96 minutes when Erak fired home following a melee in the Birżebbuġa area.

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha,K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino, D. Milovic, F. Schneider, G. Tanti, A. Florin, K. Borg, M. Mifsud (N. Tabone), M. Sciortino (F. Peplow), R. Celeste (K. Muscat).

Melita: M. Sapiano; M. Sierra Camacho, M. Fenech (L. Sammut), A. Caruana Scicluna (S. Galea), D. Erak, M. Borg, N. Rizzo (K. Micallef), N. Baldacchino, J. Galea, E. Cornago San Pedro, L. Micallef.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: Matthew Sciortino (Birżebbuġa).