Gzira United started their Premier League committments with an easy win against Santa Lucia in a match that was practically settled in the first half.

Fresh from their positive run in the UEFA Conference League the Maroons quickly settled down to start the local season on a positive note.

Gzira immediately shown that they mean business, pushing forward and forging ahead after fourteen minutes when a Bohrer corner was not cleared away by the unsettled Santa Lucia defence and maxuell Maia was on hand to open the Gzira by heading home from close range.

Santa Lucia were not set back by this goal and two minutes later Gzira goalkeeper Zarkov had to show all his class to save a Dexter Xuereb dipper.

The same Xuereb was rather unlucky on 21 minutes when his shot missed the upright by a whisker.

Santa Lucia grew in confidence as they pushed forward fro the equaliser but were dealt an almost knock out blow on 25 minutes when Jefferson De Assis pounced on a Santa Lucia defensive lapse to beat the helpless

Calleja Cremona.

Santa Lucia did not throw in the towel yet and six minutes later were back in business when new signing Miguel Alba managed to pull one back.

However seven minutes from the break Gzira re-established their two-goal cushion when Calleja Cremona mistimed his sortie and Jefferson De Assis again made no mistake.

The second half was less intense with the Maroons controlling the game and with Santa Lucia unable to get back in the game.

On 70 minutes Jurgen Pisani tried his luck but Zarkov saved the danger and on the other end Calleja Cremona made a great save off a Nikolai Muscat header, who was well served by De Assis.

In the dying minutes of the game Gzira almost scored a fourth goal when Correa’s effort destined for the back of the net was cleared off the goal line by Jurgen Pisani.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina