Msida SJ: M. Bartolo, P.Sciriha, S. Grima, T. Farrugia, A. Farrugia (P. Borg), D. Cachia, D. Prso, A. Spiteri, G. Camilleri, L. Mizzi (G. Magri), C. Brincat

Referee: M. Borg asst.refs: P. Agius, C. Micallef 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: T. Farrugia (2), K. Abela (2), L. Mizzi, A. Ewurun (2)

Yellow cards: D. Okonkwo, T. Farrugia, G. Attard, C. Cuschieri

First Division side Senglea Athletic pulled the biggest surprise of this First Round when yesterday they knocked out Premier side Msida St Joseph in extra time, with Abela and Ewurun being their executioners.

Senglea rallied twice in normal time to draw 2-2 and after going down in extra time, scored twice to win this seven-goal thriller.

The first half was rather balanced with both sides creating very few opportunities at goal as play was mainly concentrated in midfield. Msida looked menacing with their forays down the left flank although the quality of their crosses was rather poor.

Senglea defended diligently but played long balls forward to their strikers Ewurin and Abela whenever the mood took them.

Msida threatened in the opening stages on a meaty Cachia free-kick from the left. Adrian Farrugia’s effort was blocked into a corner. On the other end, Mifsud’s shot went narrowly off target.

Msida made the breakthrough after 20 minutes when awarded a direct free kick on the edge of the Senglea area in a central position for Okonkwo’s foul play and Tyrone Farrugia beat keeper Attard with a powerful shot.

Msida still looked menacing from set pieces. Another dangerous Adrian Farrugia free kick past the half hour flashed across the face of the Senglea goal but found no support. And on 35 minutes Spiteri shot Doding Prso’s low cross wide when harassed by Cuschieri.

Three minutes before the break, Senglea drew level. Kenneth Abela rose well to meet Bonello’s deep cross from the left and beat keeper Bartolo with a firm header.

Msida tried to show some more urgency after the interval but came up only with a couple of tame efforts.

On the hour, Spiteri’s cross from the left was headed by a Senglea defender and as the ball fell into the path of the unmarked Lwrence Mizzi, he volleyed it in low from close range to give Msida the lead once more.

That lasted only eight minutes though. Tanti unleashed a perfect pass from midfield towards Kenneth Abela to beat keeper Bartolo with a defiant strike.

Senglea kept possession with their neat passing game and allowed Msida few openings. It was only in the late stages of normal time that Grima’s long range shot forced keeper Attard to tip over the bar as the match went into extra time.

This produced more goals as Msida again went in front within four minutes after the Senglea defence failed to clear Spiteri’s cross from the left and Tyrone Farrugia scored with a low drive. But before the end of the first period of extra time, Senglea scored twice to edge their opponents for the first time in the match. Anthony Ewurun scored both goals, shooting in from inside the small box assists by Mifsud and Cuschieri within three minutes.

Senglea were forced to defend grimly for the last quarter hour, even substituting the injured Ewurun with Thomas as Msida put in all the pressure to save the game. Senglea’s keeper Attard brought a superb save off Magri to preserve his side’s win and progress into the second round.