Qrendi moved to the top of National League I with maximum points after two matches following an entertaining 4-2 victory over Pembroke Athleta, while Mellieħa produced a remarkable comeback to beat Kalkara United 4-3 on Match Day 2.

Elsewhere, Qormi and Mqabba shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw, Lija Athletic defeated Dingli Swallows 2-1 and San Ġwann registered their first victory of the campaign with a 1-0 win over Marsa.

Qrendi 4-2 Pembroke Athleta

Qrendi maintained their perfect start with a 4-2 victory over Pembroke Athleta at the Sirens Stadium, although the final score did not tell the whole story of an entertaining encounter.

Pembroke, now coached by club legend Jeffrey Fenech, created several opportunities but were punished for defensive mistakes by a clinical Qrendi side.

Shedrack Thomas gave Pembroke the lead after only five minutes, but Christian Saint Ebisindor levelled in the 15th minute.

Qrendi turned the match around in the 34th minute when Brandon Bray’s excellent work down the left allowed Saint Ebisindor to score his second.

Pembroke continued creating chances, but Qrendi goalkeeper Slaven Micallef, making his 100th career appearance, repeatedly frustrated them.

Qrendi then struck again in first-half stoppage time. Jake Parnis fouled Wagner inside the penalty area and the latter converted the resulting spot-kick to give Conrad Debattista’s side a 3-1 half-time advantage.

Bray made it 4-1 eight minutes after the restart after being set up by Saint Ebisindor.

Weverton reduced the deficit in the 71st minute with an excellent individual effort, firing a left-footed shot into the top corner, but Qrendi comfortably protected their advantage to secure another three points.

Qormi 2-2 Mqabba

Qormi and Mqabba produced an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, with Mqabba recovering from an early setback before Qormi hit back immediately after the interval.

Jayden Borg opened the scoring for Qormi in the 18th minute when his low drive struck the post before finding the net.

Mqabba responded impressively and Kurt Borg turned the match around with two goals in three minutes towards the end of the first half.

He equalised with a low drive in the 40th minute before capitalising on a Qormi defensive error three minutes later to send Mqabba into the break 2-1 ahead.

Qormi responded immediately after the restart, with captain Emerson Vella taking advantage of a goalkeeping mistake to make it 2-2.

Both teams had opportunities to win the match. Emmanuel Garba was denied by Mqabba goalkeeper Mario Bartolo, while Jake Borg almost snatched all three points for Mqabba in stoppage time when his header was deflected away.

Lija Athletic 2-1 Dingli Swallows

Ross McParland scored twice as Lija Athletic earned a deserved 2-1 victory over Dingli Swallows at the Sirens Stadium.

Dingli, without Malta Under-19 winger Matteas Caruana, had their opportunities and came close to taking the lead when Ronaldinho Daley struck the post after 10 minutes.

They went close again in the 24th minute when Jayden John Bonanno’s shot was parried by Luke Bonnici and Fabrizio Zammit’s follow-up header struck the post.

Instead, Lija went ahead in the 37th minute through McParland following a free-kick from Yanis Tonna and an assist from Randall Vella.

McParland doubled Lija’s advantage eight minutes into the second half with a long-range effort which goalkeeper Andrew Zammit was unable to keep out.

Dingli pushed forward in search of a way back into the contest but wasted several opportunities, with Daley missing a particularly good chance with eight minutes remaining.

Jurgen Gerada eventually pulled one back with an acrobatic close-range finish deep into stoppage time, but it came too late to deny Lija the three points.

Kalkara United 3-4 Mellieħa

Ten-man Mellieħa produced the comeback of the weekend as they recovered from two goals down to beat Kalkara United 4-3 at the Mosta Ground, scoring the winner deep into stoppage time.

Kalkara appeared in control after Miguel Perez Jimenez opened the scoring in the fourth minute following a goalkeeping error before David Akindele doubled their advantage nine minutes later.

Jordan Vella quickly pulled one back for Mellieħa and the Northerners eventually equalised 10 minutes into the second half through Aron Hernandez’s deflected free-kick.

Kalkara regained the lead in the 69th minute when Akindele’s cross-shot deceived James Magro, and Mellieħa’s task became even more difficult three minutes later when Hernandez received a second yellow card for simulation.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Mellieħa refused to surrender.

Substitute Mathias Conti headed home from a corner in the 87th minute to make it 3-3 before two more substitutes combined for the dramatic winner in the 93rd minute.

Alexander Akl raced down the right and delivered a cross towards Iven Zammit, who fired low into the net to complete a memorable 4-3 victory.

San Ġwann 1-0 Marsa

San Ġwann secured their first victory of the season after Omar Elouni’s second-half goal proved enough to defeat Marsa 1-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Marsa created the first opportunity through Davi Versiani, but San Ġwann soon began creating the clearer chances. Sunday Falana struck the post in the 12th minute before Benjamin Borg Cardona also hit the woodwork shortly before half-time.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 71st minute when Falana set up Elouni, who put Noel Turner’s side ahead.

Marsa were handed an excellent opportunity to equalise nine minutes later when Raylon Paisley was brought down inside the penalty area.

Johann Bezzina took responsibility for the penalty but struck the post.

Marsa mounted a late rally in search of an equaliser, but San Ġwann held firm to secure all three points.