Tarxien R: D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, D. Camilleri (M. Caruana), G. Calabretta, E. Pereira, A. Ribeiro, M. Tanti, A. Decesare (R. Grech), L. Vella Critien, L. Galea, K. Magro (J. Grioli)

Lija A: L. Bonnici, M. Camilleri, M. Mangion, A. Saliba, D. Scerri, A. Sacco, L. Cilia (M. Schembri), J.P. Scerri (C. Ciantar), K. Darmanin (A. Spiteri), B. Antignolo, H. Schembri

Referee: A. Azzopardi asst.refs: A. Camilleri, M. Mercieca 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: A. Saliba (og), A. Ribeiro

Yellow cards: B. Antignolo

Second Division side Lija Athletic bowed out of the competition against the more experienced Premier League opponents Tarxien Rainbows, but showed resilience and fought gamely for almost a whole hour, before ultimately going down by two second half goals.

Tarxien were not at full strength as they left out some regulars from their starting line-up, like keeper Anthony Curmi and Denni Dos Santos. Justin Grioli and Manuel Caruana only went in as late substitutes. Still, the depth of their squad, made them favourites to advance to the semi-finals, without breaking much sweat in actual fact. A scrappy own goal after 56 minutes unlocked Lija’s stubborn defence, who went on to concede a second 20 minutes later.

Lija’s compact defence and pressing in midfield, made it extremely difficult for Tarxien’s midfielders to release their forwards.

We had to wait for a whole 20 minutes to see a shot on target and that came from Calabretta, straight in keeper Bonnici’s safe hands.

Tarxien increased their efforts towards the half hour. Vella Critien’s run on the right, when set up by Tanti, ended with his shot blocked in a corner.

Decesare squandered two chances in quick succession. He went in well inside the Lija area on Vella Critien’s pass, but lofted the ball in front of goal. Then he lobbed Tanti’s pass inches off target.

On the other end, Tarxien keeper Cassar rushed off his line to block at Cilia’s feet.

Three minutes before the break Tarxien went closest of breaking the deadlock. Camilleri played a free kick to Galea whose goal bound effort was held out by keeper Bonnici against the innerside of the post, to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Lija carved two good chances soon after the restart. On 48 minutes Sacco advanced on the right, capitalising on Sadowski’s slip. His low shot was footed out by the keeper. Then again, Antignolo beat Galea’s challenge, advanced through the middle but he shot feebly in the keeper’s hands.

In between, Ribeiro missed an easy opportunity, hitting incredibly wide in front of goal, on Tanti’s teasing cross.

Lija gave in on 56 minutes. A Vella Critien cross from the right was deflected by defender Saliba into his own net.

Tarxien had another good chance immediately after. Ribeiro’s shot on Tanti’s cross was deflected into a corner.

But on 71 minutes, Tarxien keeper denied Lija an equaliser, pulling a smart save into a corner, on Sacco’s close range shot.

But the goal came on the other end on 77 minutes. Sadowski provided the cross from the left for Anderson Ribeiro to head in past keeper Bonnici and seal the issue for the Rainbows.

Substitute Spiteri nearly caught keeper Cassar out of his line with a long lob on a defensive clearance but the Tarxien keeper recovered on time to save and deny Lija at least a consolation goal.