Għajnsielem, Qala and Xewkija off to winning start as champions Nadur suffer defeat

The GFA Division One kicked off last weekend with champions Nadur Youngsters suffering a 4-3 defeat to Għajnsielem while rivals Qala Saints and Xewkija Tigers were off to a winning start.

Għajnsielem’s victory over Nadur has shown that the Blacks could again be a forced to be reckoned with this season while Qala Saints further rubberstamped their status as title favourites with an impressive display against SK Victoria Wanderers.

Xaghra United will be making their debut in the campaign when they face Nadur today before the league stops to allow the Gozo Team to represent Malta in Group 8 of the Intermediate round of the UEFA Regions Cup 2024/2025 which will take place in Liguria, Italy.

Għajnsielem, under the charge of new coach Darko Stojanovic, prevailed in a seven-goal thriller against Nadur. 

They raced into a two-goal lead inside the first 26 minutes through Joseph Ezigbo and Deacon Attard.

Nadur fought back and pulled one back on the half hour mark through Brandon Said.

But five minutes later Għajnsielem restored their two-goal lead when Goncalves Barbosa released Ezigbo and the latter made no mistake.

Nadur reignited their hopes on 41 minutes when Joseph Zammit netted from close in to punish a hesitant Għajnsielem defence. 

The match turned out to be a hard-fought affair after the break and Nadur thought they saved a point when they made it 3-3 two minutes from time when Said grabbed his second of the match.

But Għajnsielem refused to lie down and in the seventh minute of stoppage time they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Barbosa and from the spot Marcus Vinicius netted the winner.

Qala Saints backed up their Super Cup success with a 3-1 win over SK Victoria Wanderers.

Qala had an excellent start and opened the score after five minutes through Kevin Farrugia. 

The Wanderers seemed shocked and on 43 minutes they ended with ten men when Romanian striker Vasile-Fernando Mihai was sent off for retaliation. 

Qala doubled the lead on 53 minutes through another tap-in by Kevin Farrugia after a header by Igor Nedeljkovic hit the bar.

The Wanderers tried to step up their attacking efforts and pulled a goal back on 65 minutes through a header by Igor Henrique.

But less than a minute later the Maroons re-established their two-goal lead when Nedeljkovic surprised the Victoria defence and netted with a low shot.

Xewkija Tigers beat Oratory Youths 5-0 and confirmed their intentions of challenging for the main honours this season.

The Tigers, who had Jesmond Zammit making a comeback as a coach, dominated this encounter and practically put their minds at rest from the win by scoring four goals during the first half. 

Claudio Frances opened the score on nine minutes from a free kick.  Rodney Buttigieg doubled the lead two minutes later and Xewkija added two more goals in the space of four minutes through Gennaro Hili (28) and Stefan Cassar (32). 

Xewkija ease the pressure after the break but sealed the win with a fifth goal through Brian Parada (83).

Challenge Cup

Kerċem Ajax and Munxar Falcons will contest the final of the Second Division Challenge Cup with convincing wins over St Lawrence Spurs and Żebbuġ Rovers respectively. 

The Ajax, who are considered as hot favourites for the honours of the lower category, obtained a 7-0 win over St Lawrence Spurs.

They took the lead after seven minutes through Carlos Cutajar and then scored six times after the break through Cesar Velez Da Silva (50 pen, 88), Ryan Saliba (56), Christian Vella (69), Andre Azzopardi (75) and substitute Anthony Zammit (82).

Munxar Falcons eased past Żebbuġ Rovers 3-1. 

The Falcons opened a two-goal lead with goals scored by Matthew Zammit (43) and Nathaniel Mercieca (57). 

Żebbuġ pulled one back through Paul Spiteri (72) but Munxar made sure of the win with a third goal scored substitute Samwel Muscat (75).

The Rovers ended the match with ten men as Elton was sent off for dissent.

NEXT FIXTURES

PLAYING ON FRIDAY

GFA DIVISION ONE

Nadur Y. vs Xewkija T.           19.00

SEPTEMBER 17

UEFA Regions Cup

Rijeka (Croatia) vs Gozo (Malta)        17.00

SEPTEMBER 20

UEFA Regions Cup

Liguria (Italy) vs Gozo (Malta)            17.00

SEPTEMBER 23

UEFA Regions Cup

Romanian Amateur vs Gozo (Malta)  17.00