BOV Challenge League MD1 Review: Santa Lucia secure big opening day win, Zurrieq complete comeback

Photos: Owen Damato, Malta FA

BOV CHALLENGE LEAGUE 2025/26
MATCHDAY 1

Santa Lucia 7-0 Mtarfa
On Saturday at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Santa Lucia found no difficulty in beating a poor Mtarfa side with a huge 7-0 score, in a match they dominated from start to finish. The Saints therefore, now coached by former Lija Athletic mentor Joseph Galea, are the very first league leaders.

It took Santa Lucia just five minutes to forge ahead when they were awarded a penalty after Jed Valletta was floored inside the area and Jean Carlos converted from the penalty spot. The Saints doubled on 11 minutes when off a cross by Jamie Nicholl from the right, Alessio Azzopardi beat goalkeeper Andy Catania-Gilson with a shot from the edge of the area. 

Three minutes later, Jean Carlos scored the third goal, beating the Mtarfa custodian with an angled shot from the right. The Lucians maintained the pressure and increased the lead on 38 minutes when Aidan Friggieri received a pass inside the area and beat the Mtarfa goalie.

Santa Lucia FC 7-0 Mtarfa FC - 13.09.2025 - Photo: Owen Damato - Malta FA

But the first half was not over yet as one minute from the end of the first period, the Saints scored the fifth goal when off a cross from the right by Masaaki Takahara, Jean Carlos headed home from close range, the third goal of the match for the Brazilian.

In the second half, which was a mere formality with Santa Lucia continuing to run through the Mtarfa defence, the Saints had to wait until the 72nd minute to score the sixth goal thanks to Takahara, who scored from the rebound after a Filip Petkovski effort was blocked and placed the ball at the back of the net. 

Substitute Sean Gatt went close on 79 minutes with a conclusion ending just wide and five minutes later, a Shalon Diacono effort was saved in two attempts by Catania-Gilson. However, one minute in stoppage time, substitute Petkovski received from the left and beat Catania-Gilson for the seventh time with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

St Andrews 0-4 Mgarr United
On Sunday, in the first match at the Centenary Stadium, Mgarr kicked off their season in style with a convincing 4-0 victory over St Andrews, a dream start for new coach Shaun Bajada.

The Greens started brightly and, after just ten minutes, came close to opening the score through a direct freekick by new Brazilian recruit Cristhyan which goalkeeper Jake Pisani turned into a corner. Mgarr deservedly broke the deadlock on the 20th minute when Daniel Sant fired home from inside the area. Four minutes later, Duvan Mosquera (ex-Zebbug) was brought down inside the box, earning St Andrews a penalty. However, the effort of the Colombian forward was saved veteran goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.

The Saints embarked the second period strongly and almost equalised when Rodolfo Soares’ powerful header was brilliantly kept out by Debono. But in the 56th minute, Mgarr were awarded a penalty of their own after Cristhyan was fouled in the area. The Brazilian stepped up himself made no mistake, calmly converting with a cheeky ‘Panenka’.

Substitute Christian Saint Ebisindor made it 3-0 in the 78th minute with a precise shot into the corner while Terence Vella, five minutes from time after coming on as a sub as well, capitalised on a defensive error to seal the win with a low finish, giving the Northerners the most perfect start of the campaign.

Marsa 1-3 Zurrieq
In Saturday’s opening fixture at the Centenary Stadium, Zurrieq turned defeat into victory as they completed a late comeback to emerge victorious against Marsa. Marsa certainly deserved better, but a sending-off late in the game eventually proved to be fatal.

Marsa started well and after Zurrieq goalkeeper Jurgen Borg parried a Klose Azzopardi-Conti attempt on nine minutes, Marsa took the lead two minutes later when Brazilian centre-back was on the right spot to tap home form a corner action.

Goalmouth action proved to be limited in the remaining time left, with perhaps a Jonathan Monney attempt sailing inches over the bar as best chance for Zurrieq, while Davi Versiani, seconds before the half-time whistle, missed a golden opportunity to double from an ideal angle.

Zurrieq also failed to find the right ingredients to hurt Marsa right after the break, with the team of Ryan Fenech coming close to double through Azzopardi-Conti just two minutes after the re-start.

Close to the hour, Monney combined well with Gabriel Aquilina with the former releasing a powerful shot which ended up in the keepers’ grateful grasps. This action was a promising sign of recovery as in the 73rd minute, Monney powered through the Marsa defence and finished from close range to score the Zurrieq equaliser.

Marsa FC 1-3 Zurrieq FC - 13.09.2025 - Photo: Malta FA

Seven minutes later, Marsa were reduced to ten as Godfred Sakyi was sent off after receiving a second yellow four minutes after his first and just seven minutes after coming off the bench.

The sending-off spurred Zurrieq to go full for the three points and took the lead on 83 minutes when Anderson de Barros send Jamie Zerafa through who kicked past Marsa goalkeeper Jake Scicluna in style. With one minute regular time left, Barros released Monney who chipped the ball delicately over Scicluna to seal the victory for the Southerners.

Birzebbuga St Peter’s 3-2 Pieta’ Hotspurs
Newly-promoted Birzebbuga St Peter’s started their BOV Challenge League commitments on a positive note as they defeated Pieta’ Hotspurs by the odd goal in five. A positive start for the new look sea-siders, who fielded with Chris Baker, Randall Vella and goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi, just three players from last season’s Amateur League I campaign.

The two teams shared the exchanges throughout the first half but both sides were finding it difficult to penetrate the respective defences. However, the Hotspurs managed to break the deadlock on 37 minutes when off a James Brincat freekick, Arthur Stelmach headed the ball home past Azzopardi. In added time, the Saints had successive attempts by Paul Lapira and Leo Agius blocked. 

Three minutes in the second half, Birzebbuga levelled matters thanks to latest recruit Alex Bruno (ex-Hibernians), who beat goalkeeper Reeves Cini with a diagonal shot from the left. One minute later, the Saints turned the score in their favour when Agius served Lapira inside the area and the latter slotted the ball past the Pieta’ goalkeeper.

On 57 minutes, Birzebbuga risked conceding the equaliser when Julian Azzopardi lost to ball to Arthur Stelmach but the Birzebbuga goalkeeper somehow regained possession. The Saints made it 3-1 on 70 minutes when Jacob Walker served Lapira whose close-range effort was blocked but Agius kicked the rebound home.

The Hotspurs reduced the gap three minutes in stoppage time when off a cross by Brincat, Owen Magro headed home past goalkeeper Azzopardi. But it was too little too late for the Blues, who face Vittoriosa Stars next on Sunday night.

Melita 1-2 Swieqi United
Promotion contenders Melita and Swieqi United crossed swords in Saturday night’s late Centenary Stadium kick off, with the Owls coming from behind to beat the Amateurs by the odd goal in three. A hard-earned victory for Swieqi, who were missing several regulars but still managed to beat their neighbours in an entertaining game.

Swieqi opened well and came close on seven minutes when Salam Mawuena (ex-Santa Lucia) combined with Jan Tanti with Melita goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi obstructing the effort and the rebound being blocked by a defender. But three minutes later it was Eric Mensah who opened the scoring for Melita from a Jesus Andres Yepez assist. Melita could have doubled two minutes later but young Swieqi goalkeeper Kierin Ellul-Ruggier did well to deny Jean-Pierre Attard.

Swieqi could have equalised on 15 minutes through Daniel Agius and on the half hour mark through Isaac Davey (ex-Zabbar) but in both cases, Mizzi came out on top with two excellent saves. But there was nothing the Melita custodian could do on 42 minutes when Mawuena found the net from an assist by newcomer Felipe Souza.

Two minutes after the change of ends, Swieqi scored what proved to be the winner. A Tanti corner was headed towards goal by Felipe Souza at the second post, with Mizzi initially tipping the ball against the bar and Davey being in the right place to kick home. Three minutes later, Felipe Souza should have added Swieqi’s third but somehow failed to convert from an excellent Owls attack.

In the 56th minute, Gareth Barone’s header from Nick Cutajar’s freekick was saved by the Swieqi custodian. Matthew Debattista, playing against his boyhood team, curled an effort from outside the box over the bar on 70 minutes. In the last twenty minutes of the game, Swieqi defended resolutely and managed to keep Melita from scoring, securing an important three points in their first official outing of the season.

Vittoriosa Stars 0-1 Sirens
The first match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Sunday featured newly promoted Vittoriosa Stars against Sirens, with the St Paul’s Bay based side coming out as victors thanks to an early Thiago Nonato goal.

Sirens made a strong start and almost went ahead after just five minutes when Carlos Chaba had a header that went just over. The Blues scored what proved to be the winner on 19 minutes with a superb free kick by Thiago Nonato that sailed into the net, leaving Stars goalkeeper Jake Farrugia rooted.

Steve D’Amato’s side continued piling on the pressure and could have doubled on 42 minutes when Hafiz Akadom produced a superb shot that cannoned against the post.

Most definitely less action in the second half with goalmouth action at a premium. On 74 minutes, Aidan Agius-Gilford had a shot that went just over the bar but in general, the Birgu side looked strangely subdued. On 77 minutes, Godwin Emmanuel sprang the offside trap but Blues goalkeeper Ryan Caruana managed to block his effort.

Vittoriosa, again coached by Jason Camenzuli, did produce a late rally through continued pressing, with Fred Kessie managing to find space and steered his shot wide late in the game. Sirens responded with Akadom entering the box but his shot also went wide with Farrugia beaten. Deep in stoppage time, Vittoriosa could have snatched an equaliser, but Emmanuel shot wide from an ideal angle.

Balzan 0-1 Gudja United
Last season’s relegated side Balzan faced off against Gudja United in what promised to be, before-hand, an interesting encounter, which resulted into a surprise victory for the Gudjans. The match was largely controlled by Balzan however, but somehow the team of coach Andrew Cohen failed to score despite their dominance.

After five minutes, Balzan came close with a header by Stephen Gabriel Chiemezie saved by Glen Zammit. Awosanya Dimeji had a free kick from just outside the box that was easily saved by Zammit on 18 minutes.

Balzan continued creating chances with Dimeji hitting the post from a counter on 41 minutes.

At the start of the second half, another splendid shot by Dimeji ended up saved by Zammit with the rebound being fluffed by Brazilian newcomer Gabriel Santos.

But it was Gudja who took the lead against the run of play. Former Mtarfa striker Joseph Agbakwuru picked up a loose ball and entered the box, blasting a superb effort past Dylan Ciappara 15 minutes from time.

Balzan reacted strongly but did not create any real opportunities with Gudja clinging on for an important first win, a priceless three points for the team of coach Orosco Anonam.

Zebbug Rangers 0-1 Fgura United
In Sunday night’s late kick off at the Centenary Stadium, Fgura United started their Challenge League campaign on a high with a narrow 1-0 win over Zebbug Rangers.

Kevin Vella’s side had a glorious chance to open the scoring after just 11 minutes when Dylan Caruana, from an ideal position inside the box, fired over the bar.

10 minutes before the break, Fgura broke the deadlock through a fine solo effort by Alan Abdel Rahman, which ended with Hidesato Ueda tapping the ball into the net. The Rangers almost replied immediately, as latest Brazilian recruit Michael Oliveira unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area that rattled the crossbar.

At the start of the second half, Nicholas Andrews came close to double for Fgura, but his close-range effort was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi. From then on, Fgura took control of the match, with their defenders calmly dealing with the Rangers’ attacking threats and securing all three points to give the Reds the start they wished for.