Birkirkara 0
Floriana 1
Birkirkara: A. Hogg, J. Ferreira, E. Pepe, M. Vella, L. Montebello, Y. Yankam (J. Bezzina 85'), R. Briffa, C. Attard, H. Prado Caio (F. Falcone 46'), M. Alba (M. Guillaumier 78'), I. Ntow.
Floriana: I. Akpan, E. Ruiz, D. Venancio, K. Keqi, J. Arias Ulises (C. Borg 89'), B. Paiber (E. Herrera 64'), J. Pisani, N. Garcia, A. Caseres (T. Fonseca 72'), A. Cini, R. Camenzuli.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Ass.referees: Duncan Sultana, Duncan Spencer
Fourth official: Darryl Agius
Scorers: K. Keqi 30',
Yellow Cards: R. Briffa, Y. Yankam, J. Ferreira
Player of the match: Kristian Keqi (Floriana)
TMI Best Three: 1. K. Keqi, 2. F. Falcone, 3. D. Venancio
Attendance: 1,525
Big spending Birkirkara started their title quest on the wrong foot as they were beaten by Floriana, who like the Stripes dominated the summer transfer market.
Floriana were the better team in the first half, but Birkirkara, especially with the inclusion of striker Falcone in the second half, deserved something better as the Greens were saved three times by the woodwork and Ruiz saved a certain goal clearing off the goal line.
However it was a good contest as both sides need more time to settle down with so many newcomers in their ranks. However both Floriana and Birkirkara will surely be strong contenders for the title as they both possess a very strong squad.
The two sides paraded most of their summer signings, with both looking a completely different outfit. Floriana had more of the ball in the opening minutes and a Keqi shot on the turn on eight minutes went slightly wide.
On 15 minutes the Stripes were however unlucky not to take the lead when Ntow passed to the unmarked Miguel Alba whose shot rocketed against the upright.
On 19 minutes a deflected Venancio freekick was brilliantly saved by Birkirkara goalkeeper Hogg. On 27 minutes the Greens were again mencing with Arias' angled shot well saved by Hogg, and from the resultant corner the ball was somehow scrambled to safety by the panicky Stripes' defence.
Two minutes later Andrew Hogg brought the house down with a brilliant save off a Jurgen Pisani scorcher. But from the resultant corner the Greens took the lead when from Venancio's corner, Kristian Keqi headed beautifully home leaving Hogg standing.
Birkirkara staged a good comeback in the remaining minutes of the first half with Yankam missing a good chance from the edge of the area after some good work from Maurizio Vella, with the same Maurizio Vella hitting slightly over the bar from the edge of the area. Just before the break a Prado Caio header just missed the base of the upright.
On the resumption Birkirkara introduced Falcon in attack for Pedro Caio and Luke Montebello had the first attempt with the ball slightly over the bar.
On the hour the Stripes were rather unlucky not to level matters. Maurizio Vella's cross from the left was met by Falcone's imperious header with the ball beating Akpan, but Ruiz was provedtial clearing off the goal line. From the rebound the ball came towards Roderick Briffa whose powerful drive finished against the upright.
On 67 minutes Falcone failed to connect in front of goal as the Stripes were now pushing the Greens inside their own half. On 75 minutes Birkirkara hit the woodwork for the third time in the game when Falcone's cross shot deceived Akpan, but the crossbar saved the Floriana custodian.