Valletta shocked champions Luxol, beating them 7-1 as the final match of the first round of the Gatorade Futsal League was played at the Corradino Pavilion.
The Citizens were clearly intent on making up for their failure in the Super Cup, when the St Andrews side had won 9-5. The latter, on the other hand, were looking to maintain their fine league run.
Luxol looked to have suffered a hammer blow when after only five minutes Valletta’s Denis di Maio broke the deadlock with the same player doubling the score three minutes later. Florin Anton reduced the scoreline for Luxol but Mohammed Elamari immediately increased Valletta’s advantage. In the dying minutes of the first half, Slovenian Dejan Bizjak netted another goal for the Citizens.
In the second half, Luxol opted for the flying keeper but this move proved fruitless as Valletta scored more goals. In fact it was Di Maio who was again on the mark for a personal hat-trick as Dylan Musu and Cristian Cuadros Silva completed the score sheet for the Lilywhites.
Hamrun returned to winning ways after a convincing 12-5 win over Sliema. The Wanderers had a good performance but on the day the Spartans proved stronger.
Returning player Raphinha was the main protagonist as he netted five goals while Peter Pullicino, Rodrigo Ticz Patricio, Joan Manuel Losada Teruel and Daniel Mifsud were also among the scorers for Hamrun. Sliema’s goals were scored by hat-trick from Aleksandar Ribic, Alan Galea and Josh Parry.
Lija and Swieqi shared the spoils in an exciting but tense 4-4 encounter. Diego Gomes de Mello hit the target twice as Boicho Marev and Christian Wismayer were also on the mark for Swieqi. Ebrahim Massoudi, Endrit Kaca, Chris Cardona and Javi Montes Burgos put their names on the score sheet for Lija.
Msida were also confirmed in the top six position after a hard earned 4-3 victory over Marsascala.
Spanish duo Anton Novoa Perez and Inigo Dolara were inspirational for Zebbug Rangers as they important goals in their team’s 6-3 win over Mdina Knights.
A four goal lead in the first half an hour looked to have given Mqabba the three points but a great comeback from the Gozitans gave them a deserved late 4-4 equaliser.
In another match, Sirens had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Qrendi in a very tight encounter.
STANDINGS: Luxol 36, Valletta, Hamrun 34, Lija 31, Swieqi 23, Msida 22, Zebbug 18, Sirens 17, Sliema 16, Mqabba 11, Mdina 9, Qrendi, Marsascala 7, Gozo 1