Marsaxlokk 3
Gżira United 2
Marsaxlokk started their quest for a quick return to the Premier League with a win over Gżira.
The Southenders owe their victory to Andre Grabowski and Rupert Mangion who scored crucial goals after the break.
The Maroons may feel that they did not deserve to leave empty-handed but their late rally only yielded a single goal.
Grabowski shot Marsaxlokk into the lead early on. He was fed by Mangion from the left flank with the Swede chesting the ball down before hitting low past Simon Agius, the Gżira keeper.
Gzira had a Jimmy Hussey drive that was neutralised by Omar Borg and missed a glorious chance to draw level soon after when Steven Meilak lobbed the ball over with only the keeper to beat.
The Maroons continued to apply pressure and on 38 minutes Kenneth Scicluna floored Meilak in the box and a penalty was given.
Alfred Effiong saw his spot-kick parried by Borg but from the rebound he buried the ball home.
Gżira started the second half as they had finished the first, enjoying the upperhand even though they were rarely dangerous up front with the bustling Effiong showing some neat touches.
But then Marsaxlokk stunned their opponents with two goals in quick succession.
On 62 minutes, Grabowski beat Agius with a superb header from a Mangion delivery and three minutes later it was the latter who found the net from 30 metres out.
It took Gżira some minutes to regroup and when they did substitute Simon Shead hit a scorcher to pull one back. That goal, however, came too late as Marsaxlokk held on for the match.
Marsaxlokk: O. Borg, P. Paris, R. Mifsud, K. Scicluna, M.P. Clarke, A. Grabowski, W. Chircop, D. Micallef, R. Mangion, G. Caruana, D. Grech.
Gżira: S. Agius, R. Deguara, P. Grima, A. White, S. Pace, J. Chetcuti, K. Saliba, J. Hussey (Y. Tonna), A. Effiong, C. Garcia Suguino (S. Shead), S. Meilak.
Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.
Man of the match: Andre Grabowski (Marsaxlokk).
Gudja United 1
Lija Athletic 2
Lija’s experience made the difference in the end as they chalked up a narrow 2-1 win over Gudja who gave their all but still failed to avoid defeat in the season opener.
Lija were always the better side and after an Erjon Beu shot was saved by Gudja’s Matthew Xerxen, they opened their account on 19 minutes when Abdullahi Ige hit home first-time from inside the area.
Rosalino De Almeida had a shot from the distance that just missed the target and, at the other end, Gudja were unlucky to see a Ryan Sell shot hitting the upright.
But Lija were unfazed and on 38 minutes they doubled their advantage.
Beu was brought down inside the box by Ranier Buhagiar and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Beu made no mistake from the resultant penalty.
On resumption, Gudja went close from an Aleksandrov free-kick.
Lija’s Luke Bonnici did well to keep out another Aleksandrov shot as Gudja continued to attack.
Peter Paul Sammut hit wide from inside the Lija box and substitute Kevin Polidano also saw his attempt at Bonnici’s goal going off target.
Lija had a couple of good chances to seal the points from quick counter-breaks as Gudja finished with 10 men on 80 minutes when Buhagiar was sent off for dissent.
Gudja still scored a consolation goal in stoppage time when Sell slotted home following a melee inside the Lija box.
Gudja: M. Xerxen, A. Abela (D. Bonnici), E. Vella, R. Buhagiar, J. Tonna, G. Chircop (K. Polidano), E. Bugeja, K. Azzopardi (C. Grech), R. Sell, P.P. Sammut, K. Aleksandrov.
Lija: L. Bonnici, C. Giordmaina, D. Scerri, E. Beu, T. Fleri Soler, A. Scicluna (D. Vukovic), A. Mercieca (E. Briffa), B. Antignolo, M. Fleri Soler, A. Ige, R. De Almeida (A. Sacco).
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Man of the match: Erjon Beu (Lija Athletic).