Mosta-Msida SJ 1-5
Mosta: C. Carbonaro, M. Abela (B. Agius), I. Bilocca (M. Borg), M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli, P. Camilleri, A. Ewurun, B. Galea (A. Borg), C. Sciberras, C. Tabone, D. Theuma
Msida SJ: M. Bartolo, P. Sciriha, S. Grima, J. Mifsud, T. Farrugia, A. Farrugia (K. Hili), D. Cachia, P. Fenech (G. Ancilleri), S. Bajada, O. Zongo (A. Spiteri), D. Nwoke
Referee: A.M. Sant Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, J. Camilleri 4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorers: D. Nwoke (2), O. Zongo (2), J. Mifsud, C. Camenzuli
Although missing some key players like Omar Borg, Roderick Baldacchino and Ibrahim Babatunde, Msida St Joseph were still good enough to breeze past First Division side Mosta and book a place in the quarter-finals.
Inspired by the mesmerizing form of Zongo, Msida dismantled inferior opponents, scoring at regular intervals, in a match that lacked quality and excitement, highlighting the gulf between the two sides.
Albeit struggling in the First Division, Mosta were expected to provide a more decent challenge. They failed miserably to repeat the first round giant-killing act against Floriana. Undone by two quick goals before the break to fall 3-0 behind, Mosta never recovered and were completely outfought and outmuscled by their opponents.
Msida's sharp passing game had Mosta chasing them for long stretches. Msida's high work rate reaped dividends after 12 minutes, courtesy of some slack defending by Galea, who failed to clear Zongo's low cross from the left, allowing the advancing Daniel Nwoke to steer the ball past helpless keeper Carbonaro.
Five minutes later the Mosta keeper had to stretch himself to hold out Zongo's shot as the
Saints mounted a series of attacks.
With Mosta defending in numbers and very rarely in the Msida penalty area, the Saints were restricted to shots from a distance.
Mosta seemed capable of holding on to their opponents' sustained pressure until they collapsed to two quick goals, late in the first half, which virtually killed all their hopes.
On 39 minutes Mifsud's shot from outside the area was blocked by Daniel Nwoke who was quick to fire in the loose ball with a shot on the turn.
Hardly two minutes later, Ousseni Zongo exploited space down the left flank as he advanced unhindered and beat the goalkeeper with a low diagonal strike.
Although Msida somehow eased off, the pattern of the game did not change much in the second half. Msida continued with their attacking play, carving out several chances out of a Mosta defence lacking quality and steel. Keeper Carbonaro thwarted them at times, holding out an Adrian Farrugia close range effort and then diving to save on Nwoke, who took too long to conclude Bajada's cross.
On 66 minutes the irrepressible Zongo ran havoc on the left flank before playing the ball neatly back from the byeline towards the unmarked Josef Mifsud to drill his shot at the top of the net.
Two minutes later, Oussen Zongo himself completed the route with a clinical strike from the edge of the penalty area on the left.
Even a consolation goal, headed in by Carlos Camenzuli 12 minutes from time, did not raise much of a cheer for the devastated Mosta players.