Sliema Wanderers 0
Valletta 1
Maltese football needed a pulsating match to shift the fans' attention back to on-field matters after all the negative publicity surrounding the match-fixing scandals.
The prospect of Sliema Wanderers and Valletta, two of the early title favourites, going head to head for the first time this season heightened expectations of a thrilling encounter.
Such expectations failed to materialise as for long spells, the match was devoid of constructive fare and scoring opportunities with the two coaches seemingly engaged in a tactical duel.
Wary of Valletta's scoring prowess, Sliema Wanderers opted for a prudent approach and, for a long time, looked as though they were on course to keep their opponents at a bay but their efforts were undone by Terrence Scerri.
The towering forward extended his rich seam of scoring form when scoring the game's decisive goal 20 minutes from time to extend Valletta's perfect start.
Although this was anything but a vintage performance from the big-spending Citizens, they probably just deserved to take the three points as they were the more adventurous side.
As for Sliema, they had their bright moments in the first half but they faded after the break and ultimately played the price for their lack of creativity and cutting edge.
Ton Caanen, the Valletta coach, named Kevin Sammut in his line-up, the Malta midfielder's first start since he joined the Citizens from Marsaxlokk in the close season.
Valletta's 6-0 demolition of rivals Floriana last month led many to presume that Caanen would stick with the same XI but the Dutchman's choice of personnel and tactics is dictated by his assessment of the opposition.
In came Sammut for Dyson Falzon as Caanen switched to 4-3-1-2, Doding Priso partnering Scerri up front.
Sliema Wanderers coach Stephen Azzopardi rang the changes after his side's 1-0 upset to Qormi. Clifford Gatt Baldacchino was preferred to Josef Mifsud in defence, Mark Scerri, back after serving a one-match ban, replaced Noel Turner and captain Ivan Woods took the place of Miguel Ciantar.
Before the game, Sliema's Mifsud threw flowers to the Valletta fans who greeted their former defender's gesture with an appreciative applause.
Scerri tested waters with a low shot that Andrew Hogg saved with relative ease.
In next to no time, Valletta had taken the ball forward and into the Sliema box where Scerri managed to squeeze in a dangerous effort that Simon Agius touched around the right-hand post.
When Ryan Fenech seized possession in midfielder, Sliema sensed an opportunity to put pressure on the backtracking City defence.
Woods charged forward before slipping a pass to the sprinting Alex Muscat but the latter failed get power behind his strike and Hogg blocked.
Creative football was at a premium in the opening 15 minutes. Close to the 20th minute mark, Sliema won a free-kick in an inviting position after Kenneth Scicluna floored Mifsud Triganza in the inside-right channel.
Failla's central shot from the ensuing free-kick brought a routine save from Hogg.
It was clear from the initial stages that the Sliema wingers and forwards were given instructions to roam and swap positions in a bid to pull the City defence out of shape.
Mifsud Triganza was Sliema's lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation that had Woods, Muscat and Failla taking up three advanced midfield positions.
Just past the half hour mark, Lucian Dronca pushed forward from midfield and tried to surprise Hogg with a dipping effort but the City goalkeeper tipped the ball over.
If the Valletta fans thought that this match would be another stroll in the park for their star-studded team, the early exchanges certainly suggested otherwise as it was Sliema who showed the better ideas.
Ten minutes from half-time, the Valletta faithful shouted 'penalty' after Scerri went down when challenged by Gatt Baldacchino. Referee Alan Mario Sant saw things differently.
Seconds later, Jamie Pace unleashed a powerful shot that was deflected away for a corner.
Valletta squandered a glorious opportunity to move ahead two minutes from half-time.
Latching on to a pass from Luke Dimech, Sammut burst clear on the right before firing a strong cross-cum-shot that hit the sliding Scerri and ricocheted off Priso at the far post.
Early in the second half, Jordi Cruyff headed wide from Roderick Briffa's cross and Gilbert Agius's piledriver finished over the bar.
For all their possession, Valletta struggled to infuse a semblance of fluency into their game with Sliema seemingly content to absorb their opponents' pressure and operate on the counter.
With 20 minutes remaining, the Citizens broke the deadlock. Agius pounced on a short clearance by Dronca just outside the box and advanced before setting up Scerri who prodded past Agius.
Azzopardi responded to Valletta's opener by bringing on new signing Henry Isaac for Ian Ciantar and switched to a three-man defence.
More substitutions followed as Matthew Bartolo and John Mintoff replaced Failla and Muscat.
The Citizens should have sealed the issue when Priso's cross fell to Sammut but the latter poked wide with only Agius to beat.
Sliema S. Agius-6.5, A. Muscat-6 ('86 J.Mintoff), I. Azzopardi-6, R. Fenech-6.5, M. Scerri-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6, C. Gatt Baldacchino-6, I. Woods-6.5, L. Dronca-6.5, I. Ciantar-5.5 ('75 H. Isaac), C. Failla-5.5 ('81 M. Bartolo).
Valletta A. Hogg-6.5, S. Bezzina-6, R. Briffa-5, K. Scicluna-6.5, L. Dimech-6, J. Pace-5.5 ('90 D. Grima), G. Agius-6, K. Sammut-6.5 ('87 E. Agius), T. Scerri-6, J. Cruyff-5, D. Priso-5.5 ('90 D. Falzon).
Scorer: Scerri 70
Referee Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards Cruyff; Gatt Baldacchino; Failla; Dimech; Isaac
BoV player of the match Gilbert Agius (Valletta).