Champions Floriana defeated newly-promoted Birzebbuga St. Peter’s 3-0 in the opening match from the VBET Malta Premier Opening Round league phase at the Centenary Stadium on Friday.
A penalty on the half hour paved the way for Floriana who scored another two goals, missing another penalty.
Making his debut for Floriana was Yassine Jbira while Amar Drina, Gaston Romano, and Tomislav Gudelj along with Robert Muric made their first league appearance after making their debut in the UEFA Champions League earlier this summer.
Birzebbuga had no less than ten new players making their debut, namely Mattia Chiesa, Shaun Dimech, Yuri, Rasmus Thellufsen, Gabriel Costa, Alessandro Coppola and Jackson Mendoza along with substitutes Stipe Tokic, Kurt Bondin and Luis Riascos.
The Greens managed to take the lead on 31 minutes when they were warded a penalty after Alessandro Coppola handled the ball inside the area and Paul Mbonbg converted from the penalty spot.
Floriana doubled the score eight minutes later when Tomislav Gudelj, served on the left, beat goalkeeper Mattia Chiesa with a low shot.
A minute later, Gudelj was unlucky to hit the upright with another shot from inside the area.
Floriana managed it 3-0 on the hour thanks to Myles Beerman who concluded a good move on the left with a rising shot from a close angle.
The Greens were awarded another penalty after Jacob Walker floored Mbong inside the area on 69 minutes but Fede Varela hit the crossbar with Gudelj heading high off the rebound.