During this very long weekend, ten Knock-Out matches were scheduled at the Centenary Stadium with 34 goals being scored and with various teams notching important wins to move closer towards qualification to the quarter-finals stage.
Group 1
Luqa SA- St.Andrews 1-0
Luqa recovered from their heavy defeat in their first match against Balzan Youths as they staged a surprise beating Second Division team St.Andrews through an opportunistic second-half goal scored by their menacing striker Randolph Penza. The Saints ended the match with ten players when substitute keeper Rueben Cini was sent off for a handling infringement just outside his penalty area.
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Balzan Ys- Ta’ Xbiex FC 6-0
Balzan Youths confirmed their strong potential as they obtained an identical result to their opening match against Luqa.
This was simply a no contest as Balzan obtained two early goals through Malcolm Tirchett, and then added four further goals through Antoine Sacco, Marlon Monreal, Lawrence Mangion and Elton Catania. Ta’ Xbiex have now suffered ten goals in two matches.
Referee: Duncan Sultana.
Group 2
B’Bugia SP- Mdina Ks 2-1
Last season’s Third Division champions, B’Bugia SP obtained their second win from as may matches but it was Mdina who took the lead after only six minutes through Matthew Francalanza.
The Saints’ reaction produced two quick first-half goals scored by Ronnie Celeste and Neville Farrugia, a lead they held till the final whistle despite Mdina’s late reaction.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Siggiewi- Zebbug 0-2
Zebbug Rangers kept alive their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals after defeating Siggiewi through a brace by George Saliba. On the other hand Siggiewi have been eliminated following their second successive defeat.
Referee: Andrea Scriha.
Group 3
St Venera-Mgarr 5-0
This was an excellent performance by Alfred Attard’s team St.Venera as they notched their second consecutive win to go top of the table. The main protagonist was the Lightnings striker Stephen Said who obtained a hat-trick with the other goals being scored by Glen Micallef and Clayton Garzia from the penalty spot. St.Venera will now have to fight it out with Mellieha for a place in the quarter-finals.
Referee: Juergen Spiteri.
Group 4
Gharghur-Lija 0-4
Jimmy Briffa’s team, Lija Athletic, dominated this match throughout the 90 minutes with Anthony Gera giving them a deserved lead on 17 minutes. After the break Lija sealed their easy victory through a brace by Glen Barry and a personal effort by Beppe Antignolo. Lija are now sole leaders with maximum points from two matches.
Referee: Ian Miller.
Group 5
Sta. Lucia- Zejtun 1-1
This direct clash between two Third Division teams ended in a fair one-all result It was a balanced match with Zejtun wasting a penalty on 61 minutes when Marco Gerada’s shot from the spot was saved by Carabott. Zejtun paid heavily for this error as the Saints broke the deadlock a minute later through Andrew Sciortino. Zejtun were then reduced to ten players with Elton Caruana being sent off but four minutes from time they drew level when Andy Portelli headed in from a cross by Grech.
Referee: Andrea Scriha.
Group 6
Dingli-Xghajra 7-0
Xghajra were simply outclassed by a vastly superior and strong Dingli side who opened a four-goal advantage by the end of the first period through goals scored by Jeremy Agius, Etienne Farrugia, Jeffrey Zammit and Jonathan Sapiano. After the restart Sapiano scored a brace to notch his personal hat-trick with Darren Roe sealing Dingli’s seventh goal on 77 minutes.
Referee: Ian Miller.
Group 7
Qrendi-Kalkara 3-0
Qrendi made a welcome return to M.F.A. football with a sound win over Kalkara in a match which they dictated for long stretches. Joe Mercieca put them ahead after only eight minutes with Kevin Naudi (ex-Attard) converting a penalty on 62 minutes. Qrendi sealed their win two minutes from time through another debutant Ronald Spina (ex-Luqa S.A.).
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.
Group 8
Kirkop-Attard 3-0
Leonard Farrugia’s team Kirkop outclassed Attard as his son Chris Farrugia proved to be the main protagonist when he gave his team a two-goal lead through strikes on 5 and 52 minutes. Attard’s captain Josef Axisa was sent off in the 84th minute and two minutes from time Charlo Debattista added a third and final goal for Kirkop.
Referee: Thomas Debono.