Section B Side St Andrew’s reached the quarter final stage after a penalty shoot-out. Floriana lacked punch up-front but were also denied by the woodwork.

St Andrew’s created the first occasions. Michael Ellul put Michael Calleja through but a Greens defender cleared the ball to a corner. Neil Chetcuti served Mark Grech with a through ball but keeper Luca Grech foiled him with a timely sortie and Neil Chetcuti crossed to Benjamin Diacono who drove out from outside the area.

Vincenzo Brincat put Owen Bugeja through, Saints keeper Alexei Cauchi partially saved the latter’s shot and a defender cleared the ball to safety, Ian Darmanin put Brincat through but Cauchi foiled him with a timely sortie and from a freekick by redeemer Falzon the ball was partially cleared and Cauchi saved the rebound shot by Darmanin.

The Saints started on the offensive after resumption. Michael Ellul had a shot partially saved by Grech and the ball was cleared and the same player had a freekick shot which missed the bar by inches, at the other end, Owen Bugeja put substitute Franridge Schembri through but he failed to control the ball in the area when well placed and Elliot Micallef put Schembri through but Michael Debono foiled him with a timely clearance.

Luca Grech then foiled Diacono with a timely sortie after a Michael Ellul through ball and also saved in two attempts a shot by Neil Chetcuti after beating a defender.

Grech then foiled Diacono with a timely sortie after a Michael Ellul through ball and also saved in two attempts a shot by Neil Chetcuti after beating a defender.

On 61 minutes the woodwork denied Floriana. From a long throw-in by Elliot Micallef, the ball thumped the bar and finished out from an over-head kick by Schembri with Cauchi beaten and four minutes later, from a well-taken flagkick by Maximillian Ebejer, Andrea Grech drove over the bar from two metres with only Cauchi to beat.

Eight minutes from time St Andrew’s were reduced to 10 men as Michael Ellul was shown the red card after a second booking.

As the game ended in a draw penalty kicks had to be taken to decide the winner.

St Andrew’s scored three through Michael Debono, Jean M Pace and Michael Calleja when Benjamin Diacono and Timothy Martin had their shots saved by Grech.

Floriana scored two through Redeemer Falzon and Owen Bugeja. Maximillian Ebejer hit the upright and Cauchi saved the shots by Andrea Grech and Keith Cauchi.

Referee: Mitchell Scerri

Player of the match: Michael Ellul (St Andrew’s)

Dingli S 1

Balzan Y 2

Balzan Youths managed to qualify for the quarter finals after turning defeat into victory.

Dingli created the first occasions. Balzan keeper Miles Gatt turned to corner a shot by Jeffrey Ferriggi, he also saved to corner a shot by Stefan Fenech and a shot by the same player hit the upright and the ball was cleared.

Balzan reacted as Luke Mallia put Wayne Muscat through but Muscat foiled him with a timely sortie, Wayne Muscat, after beating a defender had his shot partially saved by Muscat and Christian Borg headed the rebound which Muscat saved, Wayne Muscat put Kurt Gaffiero through but failed to control the ball in the area and Muscat turned to corner a shot by Christopher Borg.

Two minutes before half-time Dingli took the lead when a lobbed ball by Stefan Attard from outside the area completely deceived Miles Gatt.

The first actions after restart came from Balzan. After Mark Galea was fouled outside the area, a freekick shot by Wayne Muscat missed the bar by inches and from a long throw-in by Christopher Borg, Wayne Muscat headed weakly in Muscat’s waiting hands.

Balzan substitute keeper Julian Mallia turned to corner a freekick shot by Jeffrey Ferriggi, and at the other end, Wayne Muscat, after beating two defenders had this shot hitting the upright with Muscat beaten.

Balzan equalised on the hour, Wayne Muscat was served with a long drop-kick by Mallia and he scored with a lobbed ball from outside the area. Chris Muscat then foiled Mark Galea with a timely sortie after a Christopher Borg through ball.

Five minutes before the end Balzan scored the winner. From a long throw-in by Christopher Borg, fisted the ball away and Wayne Muscat scored with another lobbed ball from outside the area.

Referee: Malcolm Cutajar

Player of the match: Christopher Borg (Balzan Y)