Qormi 1
Hibernians 5
Qormi: J. Azzopardi, F. Gnindokponou, Y. Yankam, S. Kim, M. Micallef, A. Abela, A. Cassar, A. Ferreira (I. Zammit 51), L. Adamec (G. Gesualdi 38), M. Borg (M. Camilleri 72), T. Gusman
Hibernians: R. Briffa, D. Vella (J. Bezzina 60), N. Radojevic, J. Mbong, M. Dias (D. Xuereb 74), J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen, I. Ntow, T. Marcolino (T. Costa 46), A. Agius, T. Fonseca
Referee: S. Pace
Asst refs: W. Debattista, D. Petrovic.
4th official: A. Sciriha
Scorers: T. Marcolino 12, 14, 16, J. Degabriele 45, M. Micallef 50 pen., I. Ntow 89
Yellow cards: N. Radojevic 22, B. Kristensen 52, G. Gesualdi 68, M. Borg 63, R. Briffa 81, T. Costa 86, M. Micallef 87
Taylon Marcolino, of Brazil, was a Hibernians hero yesterday evening as he helped himself to a brilliant hat-trick in just five minutes to lead the Paolites to a comfortable win over Qormi.
Marcolino struck on 12, 14 and 16 minutes to give the Paolites an early and healthy 3-0 cushion before Jurgen Degabriele added another for good measure just before the interval whistle. Micallef pulled one back for Qormi from a penalty early in the 2nd half, but Ntow restored Hibs' four-goal cushion a few minutes from the end.
It was one of the easiest wins for Hibernians this season as they made their way through to the Last 16 of the competition.
They will now be facing the winners of the San Gwann-Fgura United clash in the 4th round.
Qormi never lived in the same street as Hibernians. They started the match on attack, but that only lasted a few minutes, as the Paolites took complete control after a hat-trick by Taylon Marcolino in just five minutes.
The Yellow Blacks were only a shadow of the team that lost narrowly 2-1 to the same Hibernians in a league match last weekend.
However, in the second half, they managed to pull one back, but despite all their efforts, they could not find their way to goal again.
The first action arrived on 7 minutes when Hibs goalie Rudy Briffa turned to corner in style a Michael Borg freekick.
Hibs took the lead on their first real attack in the 12th minute. It was Marcolino who beat Qormi goalie Azzopardi with a low shot into the corner.
Two minutes later, the same Marcolino found the Qormi net again to put the Paolites firmly in command.
And on 16 minutes, it was 3-0 as Marcolino was completely unmarked to receive a good pass to beat the goalie again for a glorious hat-trick in just five minutes.
In the 33rd minute, Qormi threatened through Yankam whose flick off a Kim cross was well saved by Briffa.
In the 45th minute, it became 4-0 as Ntow advanced into the Qormi area to cross low for Jurgen Degabriele to find the net with ease.
The latter went close with a freekick soon after the restart.
But it was Qormi who pulled one back in the 50th minute when Mano Micallef scored a penalty awarded for a foul by Ntow on Gnindokponou.
The latter almost scored another one for Qormi, but his good effort hit the side rigging.
Hibs scored their fifth and final goal through Isaac Ntow on 89 minutes, after some really good work by Joseph Mbong.
Birzebbuga SP-Zebbug R 0-5
Birzebbuga SP: L. Saliba, M. Grech, J. Micallef, R. Duca, C. Cutajar, F. Pedrosa de Almeida, D. Pirotta, M. Pisani, J. Farrugia (C. Mifsud 69'), A. Tabone (A. Cutajar 46'), S. Kind (P. Camilleri 54')
Zebbug R: D. Galea, D. Fava, S. Schembri, D. Pace, S. Buhagiar, A. Curmi (K. Tanti 64'), T. Rocha Rodrigo, C. Brincat (M. Camilleri 69'), C. Ze Lucas, R. Micallef (S. Buttigieg 76'), J. Farrugia
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Scorers: R. Micallef 9', T. Rocha Rodrigo 27', 60', C. Ze Lucas 31' 74'
Zebbug Rangers were the first team to qualify to the fourth round in the easiest of ways, disposing of second division side Birzebbuga 5-0. Zebbug settled the issue in the first part of the match, building a three goal lead, with their opponents completely blotted out of the game.
In the second half Birzebbuga were more in the game, but still suffered two further goals for a heavy defeat. Zebbug took the lead in their first scoring opportunity through Ryan Micallef on nine minutes, and added further goals on 27 and 31 minutes with Rodrigo and Ze Lucas hit the target with shots from the edge of the area.
On the hour Rodrigo scored direct from a freekick and Caetano Ze Lucas completed Birzebbuga's misery fifteen minutes from time, dribbling the goalkeeper b efore putting at the back of the net.
Mdina K-Pieta H 1-4
Mdina K: J. Tonna, R. Micallef (D. Cluett 90’), K. Drakard (C. Vella 67’), D. Sant, J. Iwueke, M. Saliba (J. Muscat 82’), R. Sciberras, T. Debono, J. Cassar, C. Grech, W. Camilleri
Pieta H: J. Chircop St.John, C. Degabriele, N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius (H. Singh 72’), J. Busuttil, N. Pisani (J. Scicluna 67’), J.M. Artiaga Roa, C. Grech, S. Nakamura (C. Bouvet 79’), I. Jalo, T. Machedo Neto.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Scorers: Shunsuke Nakamura 33’, 64’ (P), Jan Busuttil 57’ (P), Cachel Vella 88’ (M), James Scicluna 91’ pen (P)
Pieta, as expected, found little difficulty in eliminating Third Division side Mdina Knights and advance to the last 16 stage of the competition.
But Mdina went down fighting and their gallant display especially in the first half must be praised. They managed to hold the score to just one goal by half time, a goal scored by Nakamura on 33 minutes.
In the second half however Pieta found more space and two goals by the 64 th minute practically put an end to the encounter. Jan Busuttil and Nakamura scored two well taken goals to make it 3-0.
Three minutes from time Pieta were down to ten men when Machedo Neto was shwon a straight red for a foul on Cachel Vella just outside the box. From the same freekick substitue Cachel Vella beat Chircop for Mdina’s deserved consolation goal.
In stoppage time Pieta were awarded a penalty and substitute James Scicluna drilled home the fourth goal from the spot.