This is one of many against the odds triumphs in Club history. After the usual summer build-up of high expectations for the team, Ghajnsielem started off the 2001/02 season miserably. Two quick cup exits were followed by a dismal performance and a draw against relegation candidates Oratory Youths in the opening league match of the season. Teddy Bajada completely disillusioned by the Club's transfer campaign tendered his resignation thereafter. A week later the Club featured in another bleak stalemate with the other prime candidate for relegation, Sannat Lions. So in the third day of the young season, the Blacks were already in must-win mode, not in the interest of challenging for top spot but to avoid getting bogged down in a relegation struggle. 

The opponent was none other than defending champions, Xewkija Tigers who had been on a roll of sorts in direct confrontations with the Blacks of late. Indeed, the Blacks were sporting a 2-1-7 record in the last ten clashes with the Tigers. Danger-man Sabri Rais put three past Ghajnsielem in a 0-3 cup defeat earlier in the season.

It was, therefore, understandable that the Club faced this fixture with great apprehension. The team answered the call to arms. The Blacks were quick to settle down and after three great opportunities missed by Errol Grima and Aloy Ihebulu, they opened the score through Frank Buttigieg. Xewkija's reaction was feeble. Sabri was kept under wraps by Joseph Scicluna. However, towards the end of the first half, in a rare foray forward on their part they leveled the score through Chris Camilleri. In the dying moments of the half Loreto Scicluna was tripped up by a Xewkija player. In the ensuing melee that followed Joseph Scicluna was sent off. The sizeable crowd present at the Sannat Ground sensed that Ghajnsielem would be disheartened by these developments. In fact the opposite happened. Ghajnsielem came out in the second half in pursuit of the go-ahead goal, and did not concede the initiative to their opponents until they went ahead. The goal came from the right boot of Aloy Ihebulu who had run clear of the Xewkija defence.

Xewkija mounted a furious late charge in search of an equalizer. Ghajnsielem defended the slender lead courageously. When the rearguard was pierced, Sammy Attard loomed large between the posts and made two or three saves of the miraculous variety. Ten-men Ghajnsielem held out until the final whistle was sounded.

Xewkija's defense of the title effectively ended then. By contrast, Ghajnsielem crawled out of the deep hole dug early in the season and went on a four-game winning streak and a six-game unbeaten first round of league play. This translated into a four point lead at the top of the table above the nearest contender, Nadur Y. This lead was the first of its kind since the championship season of 1973/74. The unbeaten round (4-2-0) was the first since the unbeaten season of 1976/77—which then was a very anemic 1-5-0. Unfortunately, the Blacks' went on to fritter away that lead and closed the season in third place.

As for the bogey this match may turn out to mark a turnaround in fortune against these rivals. The Blacks have held a slight edge over the Tigers since that day. The Blacks did suffer a 2-3 reversal against a Tigers's team shorn of the services of Sabri in the midst of that same 2001/02 season's second round swoon that still has many a Blacks supporter completely befuddled.