Birkirkara 4 Melita 0

Melita began their new life in the top flight with a heavy loss against a rampant Birkirkara side this evening.

Joselito Santos smashed home a stunning 25-metre strike for Birkirkara's first goal on the eighth minute.

The first half belonged to Birkirkara who had countless other chances to take the result beyond their opponents' reach, slicing through a paper-thin defence almost at will, but Paul Zammit's side were undermined by their inability to convert the chances they created.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza looked out of sorts for the Stripes as he wasted a string of chances to put his side out of sight.

Having weathered Birkirkara's onslaught, Martin Gregory's side came out with much more purpose at the start of the second, without however,troubling Reuben Gauci, the Birkirkara goalkeeper.

But that second goal that Paul Zammit's side had long threatened finally came on 52 minutes. Mifsud Triganza made a defence-splitting pass to Joselito, who rumbled into the penalty area before slotting a low shot past Zahra.

In the 65th minute, Alhinho in a bid to clear the danger, slided for the ball, caused the ball to ricochet off his hands as referee Malcolm Spiteri pointed at the spot. Nigerian striker Shodiya stepped up to take the resulting penalty and he made no mistake to send Zahra the wrong way.

Then five minutes later, Mifsud Triganza ran clear of the defence again but saw his unconvincing shot beaten away by Zahra who won the personal duel with the striker. That was the striker's final contribution with his replacement Jhonnattan  finding the net with virtually his first touch of theball, skillfully rounded the goalkeeper to deposit it from a narrow angle.