Sliema Betsson 10 Valletta McDonalds 4
(3-1, 3-2, 2-1 2-0)
The opening Premier league match went Sliema's way, as they won all four sessions of play, over a Valletta outfit, who found difficulty in overcoming the resilient Sliema defence. On the other hand Sliema were never in arrears, but the Citizens had a great occasion to tie the score, in the second session, only for the Sliema custodian, Ryan Coleiro, to pull off a great save, off Valletta's Russian import,
Dmitri Kholod. From then on Sliema were in control, allowing their opponents only another goal, as they struck six more times till the end of the match. Marco Cuk, ex-Exiles, now in Sliema's colours, managed a poker of goals, to help his side tame the Citizens, who are now under the guidance of Stephen Rizzo, vice Anthony Farrugia.
Sliema struck three times in their ten man up situations, and Valletta could only score once, in five occasions.
Sliema opened early, with a Jerome Gabarretta long swim and goal. Valletta were level with a Michael Spiteri Staines strike, but two late goals by Cuk, gave Sliema a double goal advantage. In the second period Michael Cordina reduced the deficit for Valletta, but a Cuk penalty throw opened up Sliema's advantage. The citizens came back with a Kholod long range shot, but then he missed his penalty, and Sliema punished Valletta with two quick goals, till the interval, from Cuk and skipper, John Soler, for a 6-3 halftime advantage.
An Edward Aquilina lob extended sliema's lead, after the break, but Daniel Paolella surprised Coleiro, to notch Valletta's last goal of the match. Mark meli made the score 8-4 for Sliema. In teh last session Sliema could control without any undue pressure, and Nicky Bugelli and another Aquilina lob gave Sliema a better scoreline.
Sliema: R. Coleiro , J. Gabarretta 1, E. Aquilina 2, C. Cluett , M. Meli 1, J. Soler 1,K. Dowling , T. Sullivan , J. Brownrigg , A. Attard , M. Cuk 4, N. Bugelli 1,Z. Sciberras
Valletta: R. Sciortino , J. Spiteri Staines , A. Agius , M. Rizzo , A. Mifsud ,R. Mock , D. Paolella 1, N. Bonello Ghio , M. Cordina 1, C. Zammit ,D. Kholod 1, A. Zarb Cousin , M. Spiteri Staines 1
Referees: A. Goncharenko, M. Sponza
BOV 1 Div. League
Marsascala start defence of title with a victory
Ta Xbiex Amigos 4 Marsascala Nutrition Empire 8
(0-1, 2-4. 1-1. 1-2)
Fresh from their first honour of the season, just three days before, Marsascala started the defence of the league title, won last season, with a steady victory over Ta Xbiex.The latter side opened up the second tier league campaign, but they could not quite get to grips against the confident M'scala side, who led throughout the whole encounter, and were always in command. Once more it was their Hungarian, Gabor Kovacs, who provided the firepower, as he collected a nap hand of goals, even though his side were not so hot in their man up situations, scoring once on four occasions. Ta Xbiex weren't any better, with their only goal, from a man up, came in the six times they had an extra man in the water.
Ta Xbiex wasted their opening chance to forge ahead, when their retained Hungarian, Adam Maklari, shot his penalty throw against the outside of the post. At the other end Kovacs gave M'scala a one goal advantage. In the second period Liam Grixti and Kovacs scored twice more for Marsascala, with Edward Meli and Ayrton Camenzuli cutting down on their deficit each time. Kovacs then shot in two more strikes, for a 5-2 interval advantage for M'scala.
After the break Michele Mifsud pulled a goal back for Ta Xbiex, with Stephen Micallef restoring M'scala's three goal advantage, at 6-3. In the last quarter Kovacs and Micallef made the issue safe for M'scala, as they opened up a winning lead. Meli scored his second goal, but ta Xbiex were still at a distance, as the game petered out to a quiet end.
Ta Xbiex: J. Micallef , A. Maklari , A. Camenzuli 1, B. Grech , E. Meli 2, K. Mock , M. Mifsud 1, D. Schembri , G. Attard , D. Fenech ,R. Attard , A. Sammut , J. Tanti
Marsascala: K. Schembri , JC Cutajar , J. Busuttil , C. Bonello , J. Bajada , L. Grixti 1,G. Kovacs 5, J. Cremona , S. Micallef 2, M. Pace , D. Cassar , O. Zammit B. Dougall
Referees:R. Spiteri, B. D'Alessio