In the first two matches from the second round of the GFA Division One, Victoria Hotspurs and Oratory Youths both obtained victories against Sannat Lions and Xewkija Tigers respectively, to move away from the lower places in the standings.
The Hotspurs confirmed their ambition to make up for their poor showings in the first round of the competition as they strolled to a 5-2 win over Sannat Lions.
The win enabled Victoria Hotspurs to join the Lions on the eight-point mark in the league standings.
The Hotspurs took eight minutes to take the lead through Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes before Robinson Blandon Rendon made it 2-0 from a free-kick six minutes later.
Sannat reopened the issue two minutes through Nebojsa Biculjevic but they struggled for the rest of the encounter to break Victoria’s supremacy.
In fact, the Hotspurs made sure of the win by scoring three goals after the break.
Christian Vella made it 3-1 with a half volley on 68 minutes and Kakra Boakye-Mensa added a fourth goal on 79 minutes.
Andrea Debrincat sealed the Hotspurs win with a fifth goal three minutes later.
Sannat pulled a goal back two minutes from time when Henry Solis stole the ball from the Hotspurs defence to fire home.
Oratory Youths netted two goals to overcome the challenge of Xewkija Tigers and boost their hopes to avoid the drop.
Play was quite balanced during the first half but the two sides failed to capitalise from their scoring opportunities.
Oratory, however, were more dangerous after the break and opened the score on 63 minutes.
They were awarded a penalty when Josmar Vella fouled Pablo Vinicius and the Brazilian made no mistake from the spot.
The Youths made sure of the win with a second goal four minutes later through Haraan Barbosa.
GFA Division Two
Qala Saints recovered from the disappointing draw in their previous match when they edged past Munxar Falcons 1-0 to move just two points behind leaders Żebbuġ Rovers.
Qala saw more of the ball throughout but Munxar still threatened with their quick transitions. The goal that decided the match arrived on 64 minutes through a volley by Brandon Said that flew past the Munxar keeper.
In the other match from the lower category, Xagħra United earned their first points in the campaign following a 5-0 win over Għarb Rangers.
Xagħra dominated this clash and practically put their minds at rest with three goals scored during the first half.
Xagħra opened the score on 27 minutes through their debutant Canadian striker Shemar Tristan Blair.
They doubled the score on the half hour mark from a penalty converted by Matthias Cordina.
Blair added another goal on 45 minutes and on 74 minutes Għarb had goalkeeper Andre Micallef was sent off for handling the ball outside the
area.
From the resultant free-kick, Blair saw his shot deflected into the net. Xagħra added a fifth goal in stoppage time when Julian Camilleri scored from close in.
NEXT FIXTURES
PLAYING ON FRIDAY
GOZO STADIUM
GFA DIVISION ONE
Kerċem vs SK Victoria W. 19.00
PLAYING ON SATURDAY
KERĊEM STADIUM
GFA DIVISION TWO
Munxar F. vs Żebbuġ R. 12.30
GOZO STADIUM
GFA DIVISION ONE
Għajnsielem vs Nadur 15.00
PLAYING ON SUNDAY
KERĊEM STADIUM
GFA DIVISION TWO
St Lawrence vs Xagħra 12.30
Għarb vs Qala Saints 15.00
