Għajnsielem and Xewkija Tigers opened their GFA BOV Gozo Football League First Division campaigns with victories at the Gozo Stadium, overcoming Sannat Lions and Qala Saints respectively.

Għajnsielem enjoyed a convincing start as three first-half goals earned them a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sannat Lions on Friday.

Duvan Mosquera Torres opened the scoring after 16 minutes before Jhon Alejandro Gonzales Castillo doubled Għajnsielem’s advantage seven minutes later.

Bruno Da Cruz effectively put the match beyond Sannat when he added a third goal in the 34th minute, sending Għajnsielem into the interval with a commanding lead.

Sannat’s hopes of getting back into the contest suffered another setback after 63 minutes when Aaron Azzopardi was shown a red card, leaving the Lions to complete the match with ten men.

Joseph Scerri was the referee.

A day later, Xewkija Tigers needed a dramatic stoppage-time winner to defeat Qala Saints 1-0 in a match which saw the Saints finish with nine men.

Qala suffered their first dismissal deep into first-half stoppage time when Emanuel Buttigieg was shown a red card in the 45+6th minute.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Saints kept Xewkija at bay for much of the second half before being reduced to nine players when Roberto Monteiro Rondinely was also sent off after 75 minutes.

Qala appeared set to hold on for a point, but Xewkija finally made their numerical superiority count five minutes into stoppage time.

Brian Alejandro Parada struck the decisive goal in the 90+5th minute to hand the Tigers a 1-0 victory and all three points from their opening league encounter.

Raiden Psaila controlled the match.

GFA BOV Gozo Football League First Division – Matchday 1

Friday, September 11 – Gozo Stadium
Sannat Lions 0
Għajnsielem 3
Mosquera Torres 16, Gonzales Castillo 23, Da Cruz 34
Referee: Joseph Scerri
Red card: A. Azzopardi (Sannat Lions) 63

Saturday, September 12 – Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers 1
Parada 90+5
Qala Saints 0
Referee: Raiden Psaila
Red cards: E. Buttigieg (Qala Saints) 45+6, R. Monteiro Rondinely (Qala Saints) 75