The first official match of the 2016/17 season saw Xewkija Tigers come from behind to beat champions Għajnsielem 5-4 and lift the GFA Super Cup in front of a bumper crowd at the Gozo Stadium.
The Blacks have made several changes to their squad this summer but Xewkija retained most of the players who won the KO competition last season.
Għajnsielem , now led from the bench by Anton Cremona, dominated most of the first half, taking a deserved two-goal lead through a Rafael Kooh Sohna penalty (30) and Kenny Hili (38).
The Tigers could have narrowed the deficit soon after the restart but a penalty taken by Daniel Bogdanovic was stopped by goalkeeper Luke Buttigieg.
Xewkija, with Jesmond Zammit making his debut as their coach, were not demoralised by the penalty miss as they seized command of play.
Their efforts were rewarded handsomely as they hit five goals in a spellbinding 22-minute spell through Dene Shields (55), Thiago Melo Dos Santos (60, 79), Rodney Buttigieg (62) and Bogdanovic (77).
Għajnsielem rallied late on to make the score look more respectable following strikes from Chris Camilleri (82) and John Camilleri (90).
GFA Cup
The opening round of the GFA Cup for Division One side was also played last week.
Victoria Hotspurs and Oratory Youths booked their place in the semi-finals with deserved wins over SK Victoria Wanderers and Xagħra United.
The Hotspurs won the derby 2-0 with quick goals early in the second half from Sibi Gwar and Henrique Maciel.
Oratory knocked out newly-promoted Xagħra United 3-1.
Manuel Buttigieg put the Youths in front on seven minutes but the Blues hit back strongly to level matters soon after with an Antonio Laskov goal from a free-kick.
Xagħra’s hopes were shattered before the half-hour mark when they had Mademba Dijibril Cisse sent off for elbowing.
Oratory took advantage of the extra player and dominated the rest of the encounter. Their two other goals came from Brazilian striker Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos.
In the Division Two Cup preliminary round, St Lawrence Spurs edged Sannat Lions 3-2.
Sannat led twice following an Antoine Camilleri penalty (44) and Ajibade Adesina (59) but St Lawrence cancelled out the deficit through Charlon Tabone (45) and Mohammed Senussi Telessi (60).
Libyan striker Telessi grabbed the winner for St Lawrence two minutes from time.
Today’s fixtures
BOV Division One
Tedesco Stadium
Marsa vs Mqabba - 19.30
FA Trophy – First round
Gozo Stadium
Nadur vs Għarb - 19.00
Centenary Stadium
Kalkara vs Għajnsielem - 18.00
Msida SJ vs Luqa - 20.15