Mqabba-Vittoriosa 3-2

Mqabba: P. Psaila, M. Catania, M. Bonnici, A. Busuttil (M.A. Psaila), M. Briffa, M. Pereira, C. Calleja, J.P. Muscat, E. Borg, L. Galea, D. Zarb (H. Farrugia)

Vittoriosa S: I. Cassar, R. Adami, C. Sciberras, I. Zammit, L. Scerri, T. Thomas (C. Cauchi), S. Privitelli (Trevor Thomas), J. Spiteri, L.Lagana, S. Calleja (L. Grech), D. Gauci

Referee: C. Pisani asst.refs: A. Camilleri, E. Spiteri 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: M. Pereira (2), D. Zarb, L. Grech, Trevor Thomas (pen)

Yellow cards: C. Sciberras, Trevor Thomas

Premier side Mqabba, yesterday had to fend off Vittoriosa’s second half onslaught to finally advance to the second round of the U*BET FA Trophy. Leading by three goals at the start of the second half, they had to absorb constant pressure from First Division opponents and after conceding two goals, were nearly caught up at the end.

Mqabba were without their two foreigners, Nogueira and Fabio Silva and had keeper Calleja, Psaila, Gatt Baldacchino and Mintoff.

They took an early eighth minute lead through Marcelo Pereira who ran in well for Muscat’s through pass, outpaced Zammit and Privitelli before beating keeper Cassar with a low diagonal shot.

Ten minutes later Dylan Zarb made it 2-0, almost in similar fashion, on one of Mqabba’s breaks. He foraged down the right flank and beat the goalkeeper with another low diagonal shot.

In between, Vittoriosa threatened with a couple of set pieces, always parting from the able feet of their mentor Ivan Zammit. Adami and Spiteri both failed to put their headers on target and then Lagana’s effort on Zamit’s pass was turned into corner by keeper Psaila. On the half hour the Mqabba keeper held out Spiteri’s header and Adami’s close shot from the rebound.

Mqabba could have added further goals in the first half, but Muscat shot narrowly off target on Catania’s through ball and then Calleja’s effort was safely saved by keeper Cassar.

Mqabba looked home and dry however, three minutes into the second half, when Briffa ended his resourceful run on the right flank with a low cross for the unmarked Marcelo Pereira to steer the ball in from close range.

But Vittoriosa were far from dead and buried and sparked an intensive response that saw them pull two goals back by the 80th minute after some sustained pressure.

Past the hour Lagana’s powerful free kick thumped against the bar and with the keeper grounded, substitute Leighton Grech shot in the rebound.

Vittoriosa kept up the pressure. Lagana played a good ball forward to the advancing Grech who shot tantalisingly wide.

Another Trevor Thomas effort nearly beat the keeper, who saved in two attempts. And on 78 minutes the Stars were awarded a debateable penalty for Bonnici’s apparent handling inside the area. Trevor Thomas scored with a low shot to put his side well into the match.

The final ten minutes were rather hectic, with Vittoriosa probing for a more than deserved equalizer. They had claims for another penalty, for a more evident Galea handling inside the area, turned down and in added time, Zammit’s headed effort from a corner was cleared off the line by Briffa. For all their bold efforts, Vittoriosa failed to make it to the next round.