Newcomers Birzebbuga had a dream debut yesterday when they beat Melita in their first ever First Division match. The game was very entertaining and apart from the five goals scored, the goalkeepers were very much in action, especially the Birzebbuga goalkeeper Ivan Casha who also saved a penalty.

Birzebbuga had a better start with their captain Ronnie Celeste missing a sitter in front of goal after only three minutes. Melita had a good chance through Sierra Camacho but is shot sailed over the bar.

On 22 minutes Melita took the lead when Julian Galea crossed from the right and Nicolo Baldacchino managed to squeeze in between two defenders to head home past Casha.

Eight minutes later Birzebbuga were back on level terms when Mead Mifsud was pushed by Matthias Fenech, and from the resultant penalty Matthew Sciortino fired in the roof of the net.

The newly promoted isde started to play the better football and on 43 minutes they tok a deserved lead when Mead Mifsud first timed beautifully in the net a short clearance by Melita goalkeeper Sapiano.

Melita were more aggressive on the resumption, but had to wait till 62 minutes to have a clear scoring chance, when defender Dejan Erak’s close range header was brilliantly saved by Ivan Casha. The same goalkeeper was again called in action saving a grounder from substitute Simon Galea.

Eleven minutes from time Birzebbuga sealed the issue when Ronnie celeste beat the offside trap and beat the advancing Sapiano with a grounder. A minute later Ivan Casha brought the house down with a spectacular save off an Erak shot.

Eleven minutes from time Birzebbuga put the issue beyond doubt when Ronnie Celeste raced for a long ball to beat the advancing Sapiano. But there was more to come as melita pushed everything forward and won a penalty in stoppage time, but goalkeeper Casha saved Kane Micallef’s shot. But on 95 minutes Melita managed to pull one back when Erak fired past Casha in the last kick of the match.

Birzebbuga I. Casha, K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino, D. Milovic, F. Schneider, G. Tanti, F. Anton, 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. Carnago San Pedro, L. Micallef.

Referee Marco Borg