Valletta got the best possible start to the new season when they beat Vittoriosa 3-0 this evening.

The season was only 63 seconds old for Valletta when they opned the score.

Following an incisive breakaway on the right flank by Omonigho Temile, the Nigerian fed Kevin Sammut who raced clear at the far post to coolly slot the ball under the on-rushing Simon Agius.

That goal should have signalled the opening of the floodgates, but Valletta had to wait 80 more minutes to put their mind at rest and extinguish Vittoriosa hopes of a comeback.

Winston Muscat’s side were forced to reshuffle their pack and chase the game and in a game of countless chances, the match could so easily have headed in any direction after Kevin Sammut’s early contribution.

Yet, Vittoriosa were condemned to harsh lesson in life at the top when Valetta won courtesy of two late goals by substitutes Ian Zammit and Dyson Falzon and blunt Vittoriosa finishing. On the 80th minute, Zammit, who had barely been on for five minutes, flighted a free-kick over the wall and into the top corner.

With Vittoriosa surging forward, it seemed inevitable that Valetta would score again and their sell-out crowd had to wait until two minutes from time, for Dyson Fazlon to collect a rebound after Temile forced a sharp save off Agius.

MARSAXLOKK-TARXIEN DRAW

Earlier, newcomers Marsaxlokk and Tarxien Rainbows cancelled each other in a goalless draw at the National Stadium.

It was a fair outcome to a match that came to life after the interval as both teams seemed to struggle to show their full potential with scoring chances few and far between.

The first half had little to offer and the match seemed to improve after the change of ends with the best chances coming in the final ten minutes of the match.

Tarxien new boy Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues missed a clear scoring opportunity when he sped through on goal only to see his shot well kept out by the onrushing Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

At the other end it was Julio Alcorse who almost clinched the three points for Marsaxlokk but he saw his shot hit the upright with Tarxien goalkeeper Anthony Curmi beaten.

Dos Santos Rodrigues was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.