Rabat Ajax made an emphatic statement of intent on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 BOV National League II season as they thrashed neighbours Mdina Knights 8-0, while Żejtun Corinthians, Xgħajra Tornados and Kirkop United also started their campaigns with victories.

The opening matchday produced plenty of goals, with 29 scored across the seven fixtures.

Mdina Knights 0-8 Rabat Ajax

Rabat Ajax could hardly have wished for a better start as Jesmond Zammit’s side dominated their neighbours from start to finish at the Sirens Stadium.

One of 13 new arrivals, 38-year-old striker Cadu marked his debut with a hat-trick as the Magpies immediately underlined their promotion ambitions.

Cadu opened the scoring after only five minutes from John Awori’s assist and doubled the advantage in the 19th minute.

Ryan Tonna made it 3-0 after 31 minutes before Awori added a fourth four minutes later.

Cadu completed his hat-trick two minutes after the restart, while substitutes Aaron Sammut and Calvin Camilleri increased Rabat’s advantage to seven.

Julian Suzuki completed the rout three minutes from time as Rabat emerged from the opening weekend at the top of the standings on goal difference.

Marsaskala 2-5 Xgħajra Tornados

Xgħajra Tornados also made an impressive start under new coach Paul Bugeja with a convincing 5-2 victory over Marsaskala at the Luxol Stadium.

Dario Borg struck twice during the opening stages before former Rabat Ajax forward Victor Mbata made it 3-0 in the 31st minute.

Mbata added his second shortly after the hour to put Xgħajra four goals ahead.

Marsaskala briefly threatened an unlikely comeback when Mirko Golubovic scored twice in quick succession, but substitute Ogechukwu Ohalewe restored Xgħajra’s three-goal advantage to seal the points.

Għaxaq 1-4 Żejtun Corinthians

Żejtun Corinthians came from behind to defeat neighbours Għaxaq 4-1 in the opening match of the season at the Mosta Ground.

Shamizen Buhagiar gave Għaxaq a 13th-minute lead, but Żejtun required only four minutes to respond as Samuel Saldanha converted a penalty on his 100th appearance since arriving in Malta.

Jamie Delia headed Żejtun ahead in the 21st minute before Saldanha grabbed his second in the 67th minute.

Matthew Farrugia completed the scoring in stoppage time as the Corinthians opened their campaign with three points.

Msida St Joseph 1-3 Kirkop United

Kirkop United also started with a victory after overcoming Msida St Joseph 3-1 at the Sirens Stadium.

Juan Andres Viveros opened the scoring after eight minutes before 41-year-old Ayrton Buhagiar doubled Kirkop’s advantage with a well-taken free-kick in the 36th minute, his 166th career goal.

Dasser Sammut pulled one back for Msida three minutes later, but an own goal from Yessous Camilleri midway through the second half restored Kirkop’s two-goal cushion.

Msida finished with ten men after substitute Mattei Cini was dismissed in the 83rd minute for denying Jakob Cioffi an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Għargħur 3-3 Ta’ Xbiex

Għargħur and Ta’ Xbiex shared the spoils following an entertaining six-goal encounter at the Sirens Stadium.

New signing Miguel Curmi gave Ta’ Xbiex an early lead before Max Kirkbride equalised for Għargħur in the 41st minute.

Jamiu Hassan then headed Għargħur in front shortly before half-time.

Curmi struck again immediately after the restart to make it 2-2 before substitute Jake Chetcuti restored Ta’ Xbiex’s lead in the 65th minute.

Għargħur refused to surrender, however, and Jake Agius earned them a point with the equaliser ten minutes from time.

St George’s 1-1 Santa Venera Lightnings

St George’s required a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw against Santa Venera Lightnings.

After a largely cagey contest, Andrea Farrugia appeared to have secured all three points for Santa Venera when he raced clear on the right and scored with a fine diagonal effort four minutes from time.

St George’s pushed forward desperately and, after Brooklyn Sciberras missed a glorious opportunity, Ishmael Galea struck deep into added time to earn the Cospicuans a point.

Luqa St Andrew’s 0-0 Siġġiewi

The only goalless encounter of the opening weekend came at the Luxol Stadium, where Luqa St Andrew’s and Siġġiewi had to settle for a point apiece.

Siġġiewi created the better opportunities before the interval, with Luqa goalkeeper Gerson Mifsud producing a number of important saves.

Luqa improved considerably after the break and enjoyed the greater share of possession and attacking play, but were unable to find a way through a resilient Siġġiewi defence.

The result left both teams with a point from their opening fixture, while Rabat Ajax emerged as the early leaders following their spectacular eight-goal victory.