As expected four First Division sides, Zejtun Corinthians, Pieta Hotspur, St. George’s and Rabat Ajax qualified to the next round of the U*BET FA Trophy.

Pieta too strong for St Lucia

Pieta H 5

St Lucia 1

First Division League leaders Pieta Hotspur were too strong for Third Division side St Lucia winning handsomely to qualify for the next round of the U*BET FA Trophy. It was a one way traffic affair with St. Lucia always on the receiving.

However the Yellows had a bright start, even taking the lead when Chibueze ripped the Pieta defence apart and his pass found Christian Bugeja unmarked who hammered the ball low past Vella.

Pieta’s reaction was an immediate one and they were back on level terms five minutes later when Vinicius Dos Santos Pereira made his way inside the area and fired home from an acute angle. Pieta were now all over the place and took the lead on 29 minutes with a Zach Muscat powerful header that gave Carabott no chance to save.

Three minutes later Pieta put their minds at rest when Dos Santos Pereira, put through by Jurgen Pisani, beat Carabott with another precise grounder. Three minutes from the break Pieta added a fourth when Zach Muscat finished off a melee in front to put the issue beyond doubt.

Ten minutes from the restart central defender Ezequile Giaccaglia Belzuz scored the fifth goal from close range with the ball hitting the crossbar before bouncing at the back of the net.

Pieta H – K. Vella, C. Spiteri, E. Giaccaglia, Z. Muscat (G. Busuttil), V. Dos Santos Pereira, M. Schembri (Q. Refalo), C. Cassar, J. Zarate Bilbao, J. Pisani (S. Micallef), I. Grech, A. Farrugia.

St.Lucia – D. Carabott, C. Goodwin (C. Cutajar), J. Galea, R. Mifsud, H. Friggieri, J. Wood Hgad, C. Bugeja (E. Aquilina), A. Sapiano, J. Bugeja, B. Chibueze, N. Corito (G. D’Amato).

Referee – Kevin Azzopardi

Easy for Saints in second half

St George’s 5

Mtarfa 0

St George’s easily qualified to the next round as they demolished lowly Third Division side Mtarfa with five second half goals.

However the Saints were not that impressive in the first fourty five minutes as a gallant Mtarfa side managed to hold their more fancied opponents.

However it was all plain sailing for St George’s in the second part, especially after taking a 53rd minute lead.

St George’s dominated the first half for long stretches, but Mtarfa defended well and although the saints had some scoring opportunities, the Third Division side held out admirably.

The Saints’ approach towards goal was chaotic at times and it was apparent that they were feeling the pressure as time passed.

St George’s started with a bang with Ruiz hitting the cross bar from a corner action, and the same player hit slightly over the bar when well placed on thirteen minutes.

On 17 minutes a good St George’s move with Ruiz passing towards Chukwunyelu whose lob missed the target.

Heathcliff Schembri tried his luck on 22 minutes direct from a freekick but his effort went wide and on the half hour Ruiz was again the Saints’ most dangerous man, but this time his well taken shot was well saved by Dunken Galea.

On 53 minutes St George’s finally broke the deadlock when Chukwunyelu headed in an Anthony Bonello cross.

Mtarfa went close a surprise equalizer with a Ciantar effort but the Saints doubled on 69 minutes through Heathcliff Schembri.

Mtarfa’s dreams were now all over as St. George’s scored three further goals in the remaining minutes. Reda Boutahir made it three on 73 minutes, substitute Neil Curmi headed in the fourth five minutes later, and Glenn Bonello scored the fifth and final goal seven minutes from time.

St. George’s – R. Marmara, C. Grech, M.A. Bonnici, K. Magro, A. Bonello, H. Schembri, A. Abela (D. Zarb), R. Boutahir, G. Bonello, J. Ruiz (N. Curmi), E. Chukwunyelu.

Mtarfa – D. Galea, C. Calleja, J. Azzopardi, J. Fenech, R. Sammut, E. Falzon, J.P. Ciantar, A. Wingfield, G. Caruana, F. Azzopardi (P. Azzopardi), O. Smier (A. Micallef).

Referee – Mohammed Khalil