Sannat Lions inflicted the first defeat on Victoria Hotspurs in the last match of the first round for the two sides. Sannat are now sharing top spot together with the same Hotspurs and SK Victoria Wanderers who beat Kerċem Ajax 1-0.
The Hotspurs had Albanian striker Andi Koci making his debut. They held territorial supremacy and went close when Koci hit the woodwork just before half-time. Fabiano Bassi suffered the same fate six minutes after the break.
Sannat opened the scoring right on the hour through a John Camilleri lob. The Hotspurs were guilty of missing a couple of sitters as Sannat doubled the score on 72 minutes thanks to Sabri Rais who took advantage of a short back-pass in the box.
The Hotspurs hit the woodwork for a third time on 90 minutes from a free-kick by Jason Portelli.
The Wanderers ended the first round on a good note even though their performance was below par against Kerċem.
Their victory came courtesy of a goal by Ajibade Adesina midway through the first half.
Darko Stojanovic almost equalised for Kerċem before half-time but his header came off the bar.
Nadur Youngsters are finding the going tough this season as they are still bottom of the standings. Last weekend, the champions were held to a draw by Qala St Joseph.
Nadur went ahead on 44 minutes from a free-kick taken by Alex Simoncic. The Maroons hit back strongly after the break and levelled matters on 56 minutes when Eric Nkwankwo tapped home from a Mario Mifsud cross.
In the final stages, Nadur were unlucky when a Josef Buttigieg shot cannoned off the woodwork and Joseph M. Portelli hit wide from the rebound.
Deep into stoppage time, Qala keeper Victor Agius came to his side's rescue with providential saves on shots by Simoncic and Joseph C. Portelli.
Summaries
Kerċem Ajax 0
SK Victoria W. 1
A. Adesina 21
Kerċem: V. Galea, F. Camilleri, D. Stojanovic, E. Hussain, M. Tabone, G. Emiy (L. Camilleri), M. Stojanovic, J. Debrincat, J. Mercieca (L. Attard), S. Grech, A. Grech (M. Vella).
SK Victoria: M. Mercieca, F. Magrin, D.U. Monday, M. Grech, K. Azzopardi, M. Buttigieg, J. Refalo, W. Akande, I. Adesina, A. Adesina, C. Sciortino.
Referee: Reno Refalo.
Sannat Lions 2
J. Camilleri 60; Rais 72
Victoria Hotspurs 0
Sannat: D. Bajada, B. Njoku, J. Agius, A. Debono, M. Muscat, M. Formosa, F. De Andrade, J. Camilleri, M. Azzopardi, S. Rais, E. Bugeja (N. Micallef).
Victoria Hotspurs: M. Grima, A. Tramboo, M. Vella, A. Zammit, M. Cordina, J. Portelli, F. Bassi, N. Borg, J.P. Grima (J. Xerri), A. Koci, R. Grech (R. Mercieca).
Referee: Marco Borg.
Nadur Youngsters 1
Simoncic 44
Qala St Joseph 1
Nkwankwo 56
Nadur: S. Sultana, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, S. Attard, A. Simoncic, J. Buttigieg, B. Timotic, J.M. Portelli, A. Gseaa, A. Portelli, J.C. Portelli.
Qala: V. Agius, J. Galea, P. Camilleri, M. Bonello, M. Secco, P. Said (C. Portelli), C. Hili, G. Cefai, E. Nkwankwo, D. Abela, M. Mifsud.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.