VITTORIOSA STARS 1
QRENDI 2
Vittoriosa S: Z.Valletta, J.Briffa, A.Galea I.Abela, K.Vella, T.Abela-Wilson, L.Gauci, (D.Tabone 46), I.Curmi, (A.Ellul 64), G.Sultana, (L.Casha 88), O.Guerrero, Renan Sgaria
Qrendi: D.Zarb, S.Schembri, E.Vella, A.Curmi, L.Martinelli, D.Azzopardi, A.Agius, L.Schembri, (C.Camilleri 64), Jonatan Silva, (D.Sammut 76), Dhonatan da Hora, (S.Radovanovic 88), A.Nilsson.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Scorers: A.Nilsson 16', Dhonathan da Hora 21', O.Guerrero 70' pen
Qrendi started the season on a top note beating Vittoriosa Stars by the odd goal in three in an interesting encounter. The first 35 minutes of the match were completely dominated by Qrendi, who opened the score in the 16th minute when the Vittoriosa defence lost the ball in the built-up. Jonatan Silva intercepted the ball and cleverly passed to Alex Nillson, who beat Zach Valletta from the edge of the box with an angled shot. Five minutes later, Dhonatan Da Hora was sent through on the left, beating the Vittoriosa goalkeeper for a second time. In the 24th minute, Valletta saved a Nilsson effort from close-in.
After the break, Vittoriosa gradually saw more of the ball but Qrendi were still the better team with Da Hora going close soon after the start. With twenty minutes to go, Vittoriosa were awarded a penalty. Substitute Dario Tabone was illegally stopped in the box by Zarb and Guerrero made no mistake from the penalty spot. In the 88th minute, Dhonatan missed a sitter with only the goalkeeper to beat after some excellent work from substitute Calvin Camilleri. In added time, Zarb saved the day for Qrendi with an excellent block on Renan Sgaria's header. It was the last opportunity for the Stars, leaving the pitch empty handed.
SWIEQI UNITED 2
NAXXAR LIONS 2
Swieqi U: E.Gatt, J.Azzopardi, S.Bugeja, M.Ivanovic, K.Sultana, (M.Camilleri 79), M.Farrugia, A.Schembri Wismayer, R.Taliana, (K.Muscat 59), G.Bugeja, A.Tejumola, (F.Fernandes 52), I.Salis
Naxxar L: O.Borg, A.Azzopardi, (R.Mercieca 82), B.Essel, J.Camilleri (J.Ellul 46), S.Meilak, M.Fenech, M.Mifsud, J.Debono, D.Falzon, G.Martins Leite, E.Farias.
Referee: Slawomir Olucha
Scorers: R.Taliana 18', J.Debono 48', I.Salis 66', Martins Leite 94' pen.
Swieqi and Naxxar shared the spoils in a keen and balanced encounter with Naxxar Lions obtaining a point thanks to a 94th minute penalty.
In the 18th minute, Swieqi took the lead. An inch perfect cross from left side by Ajorinde Tejumola was rounded off by captain Roderick Taliana, unmarked in the box, celebrating his return to competitive football in style after being left on the side-lines one whole season due to a serious knee injury
Naxxar equalised right after the break thanks to a Jurgen Debono quickfire in the box, which left goalkeeper Edward Gatt helpless. On 63 minutes Leite dribbled his way on the right into the box, his shot was saved by Gatt, with Alessio Azzopardi hitting the post from the rebound. Two minutes later however, it was Swieqi who regained the lead. Nigerian striker Ibrahim Salis headed home from close-in after an angled Marko Ivanovic cross from the left. Four minutes later, substitute Felipe Fernandes' acrobatic one-timer hit the crossbar after a cross from the right of Kyle Muscat. Deep into added time, Swieqi centre-back Ivanovic illegally stopped Edson Farias in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. Martins Leite made no mistake from 11-meters to give Naxxar a valuable point.