Senglea A v Mosta           2-3

Senglea A: P. Schranz, B. Muscat, F. Salvati, M. Guillari (L. Grech 75'), B. Volpini, B. Gonzalez, Z. Cassar (D. Micallef 61'), M. Garcia, A. Caseres, K. Cutajar, L. Mallia.

Mosta: A. Vella, K. Hirose (K. Frendo 91'), J. Brincat (S. Bonnici 106'), M. Sammartino (C. Camilleri 110'), D. Xuereb, R. Morisco Da Silva, D. Angan N'Guessan, T. Farrugia, A. Roach, J. Cisotti, P. Romeu.

Referee: Mario Apap

Ass. referees: Roberto Vella, Shaun Calleja

Scorers: A. Caseres 7' (S), B. Volpini 13' (S), R. Romeu 21' pen (M), R. Morisco Da Silva 39' (M), J. Cisotti 114' (M)

Yellow cards: M. Sammartino, A. Caseres, B. Gonzalez, A. Vella

Mosta were trailing by two goals after thirteen minutes play, but recovered well to snatch the winner in extra time and now face Sliema in the fourth round of the competition.

It was an exceptional match especially in the first half with both sides playing some entertaining football.

On seven minutes Senglea forged ahead in the first real danger of the match when Caseres beat Farrugia on the run, dribbled past the goalkeeper and fired the ball home for a well taken goal. Six minutes later Senglea were on velvet when from a corner action, Volpini scored a beauty with an overhead kick.

Three minutes later Mosta tried to hit back but the Senglea goalkeeper made an outstanding save off a Sammartino dipper. On 21 minutes Mosta were back in business when Brandon Muscat handled the ball inside the area and from the penalty spot Romao Romeu drilled the ball home.

Mosta were now in full forcing to level matters with Senglea pushed in their own half. On 29 minutes Mosta went close an equaliser when a James Brincat header left Schranz helpless but Ferdinando Salvati was really Senglea's saviour clearing the ball off the goal line.

But the goal was in the offing and Mosta levelled matters on 38 minutes when Rafael Morsico Da Silva found the back of the net with a low shot after the Senglea defenders failed to clear the ball following a corner action.

On the resumption a Guillari grounder slightly missed the base of the upright and a Salvati freekick missed the target. Senglea continued to hold the upperhand in the second half and Senglea had other scoring opportunities with shots from Caseres and Volpini blocked on the goal line.

The match dragged on and went to extra time but scoring chances were now scarce as both sides were tired out. However Mosta missed a good chance on 112 minutes with Roach hitting over the bar after an Angan run on the right.

On 114 minutes Mosta took the lead when Roach dribbled his way inside the area before testing Schranz and from the rebound Cisotti was on hand to hammer the ball home.

 

 

Vittoriosa S         0
Tarxien R             3

Vittoriosa S: C. Cassar, C. Spiteri, R. Previ, E. Mbong, G. Sultana (A. Cilia Mumford 61'), J. Ogunnupe (J.C. Cesare 78'), J. Briffa, P. Papadakis, N. Ojuola, M. De Sousa Diaz, T. Abela Wilson (J. Pace 69').

Tarxien R: A. Cassar, M. Botta, J. Wemmer (J. De Paixao 75'), D. Zerafa, M. Paolucci, G. Aquilina (A. Nilsson 67'), A. Agius (M. Spiteri 83'), L. Grech, A. Scicluna, A. De Barros, R. Faria.

Referee: Emanuel Grech

Ass. Referees: Duncan Sultana, James Muscat

Scorers: R. Silva Faria 17', A. Scicluna 45', M. Paolucci 52' pen

Yellow cards: C. Spiteri, R. Faria, D. Zerafa

Tarxien made it to the fourth round of the FA Trophy beating a gallant Vittoriosa side in an interesting encounter. Although soundly beaten Vittoriosa gave a very good account of themselves, many a times creating some good scoring opportunities.

In the long run Tarxien's superiority emerged and their victory and qualification was a deserved one, as they now face another team from the First Division Zebbug in the fourth round, with good possibilities of making it to the quarter finals.

In the opening minutes Vittoriosa were always on the ball, and created some anxious moments in the Tarxien reaguard with Ogunnupe and Sultana in the spotlight.

However on 17 minutes Tarxien broke the deadlock with a good move between Wemmer and Andrew Agius who passed towards Ricardo Faria who from an acute angle fired beautifully home in the top corner.

On 25 minutes had a good scoring opportunity when Mbong served Ogunnupe whose grounder went slightly wide. Three minutes later the Tarxien custodian preserved his side's lead with a great save off a point blank shot from Ogunnupe following a melee in front of goal.

On 29 minutes Wemmer had a good run but his shot went over the bar. On 42 minutes Ogunnupe dribbled past a couple of defenders before firing a great shot from the edge of the area, a shot that was brilliantly saved by Cassar.

Just before the break the Vittoriosa goalkeeper made a great save off a shot on the turn Ricardo Faria. In stoppage time Tarxien doubled the score when Chsritian Cassar failed to hold a Wemmer cross from the right, and Andre Scicluna was on hand to tap the ball home in an empty net.

Seven minutes into the second half Paolucci was tripped by Jesmar Briffa and from the penalty spot the same Paolucci made no mistake. Vittoriosa had a good chance to pull one back when Ogunnupe's cross was was met by De Souza who failed to hit home.

On 77 minutes Joseph Ogunnupe again created havoc in the Tarxien defence but his shot skimming the crossbar. On 90 minutes substitute Nilsson almost scored Tarxien's fourth goal from close range.