Pieta H: A. Hogg, B. Sciberras, A. Tasca, M. Deanov, S. Ciscaldi (D. Kokavessis), C. Calleja (D. Mifsud), C. Camilleri, C. Sammut, S. Kondev, A. Debono, E. Herrera (D. Gera)

Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Bondin, S. Bezzina, B. Nisevic, I. Zammit, R. Forace, E. Uzeh (J. Grioli), D.Camilleri, D. Falzon, S. Monesterolo (K. Fenech), G. Agius (D. Zarb)

Referee: C. Pisani Asst. refs: N. Debattista, Ms E. Farrugia 4th official: A. M. Sant

Scorers: S. Monesterolo (4), G. Agius

Yellow cards: S. Kondev, C. Camilleri, M. Deanov, E.Uzeh, G. Agius, D. Kokavessis

Player of the match: Sebastian Monesterolo (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. S. Monesterolo 2. G. Agius 3. I. Zammit

Valletta were off to a good start which augurs well for a positive new season ahead.

Woeful Pieta were hit hard by Sebastian Monesterolo's devastating finish. The Argentina striker netted four of Valletta's goals in a resounding win that puts them on the right track. Moreover, their new additions fitted in well as the Citizens gave a good collective performance albeit against inferior opponents who need to work hard on their defensive set-up to avoid future embarrassment. Surely Vittorio’s debut on the Pieta bench was far from encouraging.

This match added to the rush of goals in the season’s opening, with typical flashes of controversy and a host of new faces eager to make an impression.

An early lead helped Valletta take a firm grip on the game. Their newly shaped midfield, with Uzeh, David Camilleri and both Dyson Falzon and Ian Zammit playing wide, supporting the forwards Monesterolo and Agius, looked well settled and never allowed Pieta to fashion their build-ups.

In fact Kondev, Calleja, Deanov and former Valletta player Chris Camilleri were being constantly outplayed in midfield. The Hotspurs’ strikers Debono (also a former Valletta player) and Herrera were thus starved of service.

Newly signed keeper Darmanin remained mostly inoperative in the Valletta goal during the first half, except for his sortie to block Herrera’s incursion on the quarter hour.

By then, Valletta were already one up, courtesy of a Sebastian Monesterolo low flick past the stranded keeper Hogg on Zammit’s low cross after only three minutes.

The pace was slow with Valletta totally in command of the proceedings. Pieta’s new recruit Angelo Tasca showed good defensive qualities, often breaking down the opponents’ raids single handed. That until Valletta struck again on 39 minutes.

Sebastian Monesterolo charged unmarked through Pieta’s defence to tuck Agius’s low cross past Hogg and give Valletta a comfortable two-goal cushion by half-time.

That might have made them relax a bit psychologically as Pieta, who substituted Calleja with Mifsud, showed more attacking intent after the break.

Camilleri’s low cross was missed by Forace, with Debono’s instinctive effort going wide.

Then Herrera headed Debono’s cross wide.

That was only a brief spell for the Hotspurs though. By the hour, Valletta missed another open chance, were denied a penalty and scored their third. Gilbert Agius was their protagonist.

On 52 minutes he beat Tasca, played the ball to the unmarked Monesterolo, whose effort was blocked by Hogg but Zammit lofted the loose ball.

Three minutes later, Valletta had what looked legitimate claims for a penalty rejected when Agius was floored inside the area by the keeper after going through. Instead, the Valletta skipper was booked for simulation. But there was no denying Agius on 58 minutes as he steered in Zammit’s perfect pass from the right.

With the flimsy Pieta defence at sixies and sevens, Valletta continued to pile up the goals as Monesterolo netted two others in quick succession. On 64 minutes Tasca and Sciberras could not prevent him from taking possession as he slotted in Valletta’s fourth and his personal hat-trick.

Three minutes later Agius was again the provider with a deep cross from the right for the Argentinian to finish off at the far end and complete Pieta's demolition.

But the match had long been over as a contest.