Mellieha 0

Melita 0

(Mellieha win on penalties)

Mellieha made it to the third round of the FA Trophy when they beat Melita 4-2 after the penalty shoot-out.

None of the two sides managed to overcome the opponents’ defence during the 120 minutes, eventually leading to the penalties deciding the outcome of the match.

Six minutes into the match, Melita were close to opening the scoring, when after receiving from Luke Micallef, who had a good run along the left flank, Kane Micallef’s shot skimmed the woodwork.

Barely a minute later, Mellieha had their own chance, when after a precise pass from Loquete, Mark Vella’s first timer was turned into a corner by goalkeeper Zahra with the tips of his fingers.

While the first half was very balanced, with most of the play taking place in midfield, Melita were slightly better than their opponents in the second half.

Ten minutes after the resumption, Mellieha protested for a penalty, when goalkeeper Zahra was seen catching Loquete’s foot in his area, but the referee allowed play to continue and booked Mellieha’s forward. In the 70th minute, Melita were close to taking the lead, when Julian Galea’s powerful effort hit the post.

90 minutes were not enough for either team to score, with the match going to extra time, where after four minutes, Mellieha’s custodian made a good save on Kane Micallef’s shot.

In the 27th minute of extra time, Mellieha were down to ten men when Phil Taylor was sent off for his second bookable offence, and a minute later, Melita were also down to ten, when Matthew Borg was dismissed for dissent.

The result at the end of extra time was still a goalless draw, with Mellieha winning the penalty shoot-out 4-2. William Borg, Wayne Buttigieg, Tiago Loquete and David Cauchi scored for Mellieha, while Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho and Kane Micallef scored for Melita. Emilio Cornago San Pedro missed for Melita when his shot hit the crossbar, and George Gribbon’s shot went incredibly very high.

Mellieha: J. Abela, M. Vella, W. Buttigieg, P. Taylor, D. Cauchi, W. Borg, K. Fenech, R. Perkins, W. Borg St. John (A. Aquilina), M. Vella (K. Simiana), T. Loquete

Melita: K. Zahra, M. R. Sierra Camacho, G. Gribbon, M. Borg, K. Micallef, J. Galea, E. Cornago San Pedro, L. Micallef, T. Terpougoff, K. Vella Petroni, S. Galea (N. Baldacchino Orland)

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Xewkija T. 2

Mdina K. 1

Xewkija Tigers maintained their positive run in the competition as they advanced to the third round courtesy of an odd goal in three win against Mdina Knights.

The Tigers, who led 1-0 at the interval, had beaten Swieqi in the first round.

This was a close match in which the Knights offered stiff opposition to the ‘home’ side, the Tigers.

Xewkija were lucky not to have conceded a goal early as Mark Saliba hit the post for the Knights, but then it was Xewkija who were also unlucky as John Camilleri also had an effort hitting the post.

Xewkija took the lead on 15 minutes through a Rodney Buttigieg header. Mdina had a good chance to equalize before the interval, but Matthew Francalanza hit wide from close in.

In the second half, Mdina made a strong reaction and managed to equalize through Justin Buhagiar with a shot from the edge of the area.

But hardly a minute had elapsed and Xewkija again took the lead when Mark Camilleri beat Barbara with a good effort.

From then on, the Gozitans contained their opponents and could have also snatched a third goal near the end when Buttigieg missed a sitter after advancing.

Xewkija Tigers FC: J. Grima, M. Xerri, J. Vella, M. Hrusba, J. Cefai, F. Galea (C. Bugeja), E. Vella, C. Camilleri, R. Buttigieg, J. Camilleri (K. Dykov), M. Camilleri (J. Azzopardi).

Mdina Knights FC: M. Barbara, A. Spiteri, K. Formosa (L. Mercieca), G. Camilleri, A. Catania, R. Southwood, A. Gatt, M. Saliba (L. Vella), N. Micallef, J. Buhagiar, M. Francalanza (P. Grima).

Referee: Duncan Sultana

Sannat L. 1

Gharghur 2

Gharghur came from behind to turn defeat into a victory with all the goals being scored in the first half.

It was a keenly contested match, but Gharghur were superior in all departments. Sannt tried hard to save the match in the second half, but Gharghur never lost hold on the game.

Sannat had a good start and even took the lead through a Diego Maradona Petriaggi angled shot which beat goalie Jurgen Cilia.

Gharghur replied immediately and after three minutes had already equalised through Iro Curmi who received a good ball from Gravata.

They insisted on attack and were rewarded for their efforts when Michael Borg Olivier beat Adrian Parnis to put his side in the lead.

In the second half, although Sannat enjoyed the lion’s share of the attacks, it was Gharghur who were more dangerous in their counter-attacks but the result did not change.

Sannat Lions FC:  A. Parnis, F. Debono (P. Buttigieg), M. Formosa, N. Borg, A. Debono, J. Agius, M. Muscat, D. Mercieca (J. Buttigieg), J. Achokwo, E. Nwankwo (N. Micallef), D. M. Patriaggi.

Gharghur FC: J. Cilia, R. Debattista, J. Debattista, C. Farrugia, R. Mifsud, B. Perry Alton, R. Gravata (A. Vassallo), E. Lapira, B. Antignolo, I. Curmi (C. Vella), M. Borg Olivier.

Referee: Roberto Vella

Gzira U 4

SK Victoria W. 3

(after penalties)

Gzira went through to the third round after they managed to beat SK Victoria Wanderers 4-3 after 120 minutes of play and the penalties.

The game was evenly tied with both teams having their chances. Gzira coach Joe Gerada decided to rest some players as he decided to give some players playing time.

SK Victoria had their first chance on the 4th minute but their attack failed to capitalise. On the 20th minute Gzira threatened the post for the first time but Karl Saliba’s low shot went wide. The same Karl Saliba had another shot three minutes later, this time on target but Vella was there to save with his legs.

On the half hour mark Victoria went close to take the lead when from a corner, Gerada saved a good shot from Udoh. From the same action Vella did not connect from a cross from the left.

Victoria had another shot from Estrada on the 40th minuute but his shot went off target. Gzira probably had their best chance when from a Kevin Cassar free-kick, Anthony Ewurum headed wide when alone in the Gozitans’ box.

Victoria had a good chance four minutes into the second half when from a corner by Vella, Adesina shot over the crossbar.

On the 64th minute Victoria had their best chance of the match when Estrada managed to beat Gerada but his shot was cleared off the line by White. On the 75th minute Vella saved a good shot from Antoine Galea while on the 87th minute Victoria had a free-kick from Joseph Vella that also went wide. In the stoppage time Gzira had their chance to win the game but Ryan Deguara shot wide.

In the extra time Victoria could have gone in front but Gerada made a brilliant save to deny Estrada. On the 106th minute Gzira hit the crossbar from a Kevin Cassar free-kick.

Gzira had the chance to go in front and probably win the match when they were given a penalty after a handsball in the area. Simon Shead took the responsibility but his shot from the spot went wide.

The penalties that decided this affair and were taken in this order. Udoh, Vella and Williams scored for Victoria while Estrada and Sciortino missed. On the other hand Gzira scored all their four penalties thanks to Shead, Cocks, Deguara and Ewurum.

Gzira: K. Gerada, A. Ewurum, M. Cocks, K. Saliba, J. Azzopardi (S. Shead), Y. Tonna (R. Deguara), J. Hussey, K. Cassar, A. White, A. Galea, A. Buttigieg (R. Alinho)

SK Victoria: F. Vella, F. Magrin, S. Gatt (M. Zammit), A. Adesina, A. Rotimi Williams, D. Wooh, E. Bugeja, J. Refalo, C. Sciortino, J. Vella, A. Edison Estrada

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut

Assistant Referees: Mariano Debono, Thomas Debono

Yellow Cards: A. Rotimi Williams, J. George Vella (SKV), A. White (GZ)

San Gwann 2

Santa Venera 1

San Gwann are through to the third round after they managed to beat St Venera 2-1 in a match that had a thrilling end.

This is the second win for San Gwann this season over St Venera after beating them 1-0 in the league.

San Gwann opened the score after 11 minutes. It was Christian Cacciattolo who put past Attard with a powerful left shot.

On the 52nd minute San Gwann almost doubled the score but the shot from the edge of the box from Christian Cacciattolo went close. Three minutes later it was again Cacciattolo who crossed to Ndayi but the latter’s header went wide.

St Venera had a good opportunity on the 82nd minute but Emanuel Muscat saw his shot going over the bar. Three minutes later a free-kick from Dylan Mercieca went wide. But St Venera managed to equalise.

It was on the 92nd minute when a beautiful shot from Jeffrey Zammit gave no chance to Nagy.

Although San Gwann were shocked by the goal they had other plans because a minute later they scored again thanks to Keith Vella who took advantage of an indecision from Attard to put his side in the third round.

San Gwann: D. Nagy, Q. Bregman, M. Caruana, K. Vella, G. Agius, P. Xuereb, C. Cuschieri (J. Lapira), K. Ndayi (S.Vella), C. Pace, C. Cacciatolo, M. Asciak (A. Borg)

Santa Venera: E. Attard, J. Taliana, J. Onouha, M. Muscat, D. Wingfield, J. Zammit, E. Muscat, D. Vella (J. Micallef), K. Cilia (G. Ancilleri), R. Borg, D. Mercieca

Referee: Stefan Pace