Tarxien -Mosta 5-1

A gallant Mosta side was not enough to stop Tarxien Rainbows from moving forward to the second round. Tarxien were undoubtedly the better team, but Mosta did not deserve to be beaten by such a scoreline.

Credit however goes to the Rainbows who played for an over an hour with a player less. Mosta had a brilliant start even forging ahead, but they faded away completely in the second half, as Tarxien scored at will in the last 15 minutes.

Mosta did the early running taking their opponents by surprise and Tarxien goalkeeper Curmi was immediately called into action to save a Julian Vella dipper. On the seventh minute, not surprisingly, Mosta took the lead when Lyden Micallef headed a beauty from an acute angle.

But Mosta's joy was shortlived as two minutes later Tarxien were back on level terms when Ribeiro headed from close range a Sadowski cross from the right. Another two minutes elapsed and Tarxien were in front when ex-Mosta player Gianluca Calabretta eluded the offside trap to fire low past a helpless Debono.

Mosta were unlucky on 15 minutes when Lyden Micallef connected to a Briggs freekick but his shot hit the base of the upright.

On 24 minutes Tarxien received a setback when they were reduced to ten players – Andrew Decesare was sent off for dissent. Although with a player less, Tarxien were still creating the best scoring chances and on 36 minutes Ribeiro missed a sitter in front of goal after some good work by Calabretta. Three minutes later Ribeiro was unlucky when his shot slammed against the crossbar.

On the resumption Mosta were unlucky not to obtain the equaliser when an Adrian Borg header hit the upright. Four minutes later Tarxien went close again when Mark Tanti's shot sailed over the bar. On the hour Mosta goalkeeper Debono kept his side in the match when he brilliantly saved a Dos Santos shot.

However Tarxien sealed the issue on 71 minutes when Dos Santos passed towards Ribeiro whose grounder beat Debono.

Tarxien were now in full command and a minute later Dos Santos missed another good chance in front of goal. Fifteen minutes from time Tarxien scored their fourth goal when Calabretta crowned a fine performance with a fine solo effort and a perfect finish. Three minutes later Tarxien scored their fifth and final goal when Ribeiro did all the running, dribbling a couple of defenders before beating Debono.