St George’s won a tightly contested encounter on penalties against Lija Athletic to progress to the quarter final of the FA Trophy.

In the second match of the afternoon at the Centenary Stadium both St George’s and Lija Athletic were two evenly matched teams hoping for a place in the FA Trophy Quarter final.

St George’s got off to a good start after some early pressure and took the lead when Ruiz found some space on the right and rifled a fine angled shot into the net after a personal move. Otherwise the first half was a pretty poor affair with no real goalmouth action as both teams appeared content to slug it out in midfield.

Deep in first half stoppage time, Lija were unlucky not to equalise when a fine free kick from just outside the box by Conceicao ended up slamming against the post.

Four minutes after the break St George’s came close to doubling their lead when a cross by Dylan Zarb found De Azevedo who however concluded wide. On 69 minutes, Lija came close with a good shot by Darmanin which ended up just wide.

On 84 minutes, Lija won a penalty when Bonello fouled Darmanin who stepped up from 11 metres and scored to level matters. Two minutes later, St George’s had a good chance when a direct free kick by Bonello ended up saved for a corner by Ini.

Deep in stoppage time, Camilleri received his marching orders for a second bookable offence with Lija having to play extra time with ten players.

The first period of extra time provided nothing much in the way of goalmouth action with both sides seemingly resigned to penalties.

On 118 minutes, St George’s should have won it but Conceicao’s shot cannoned off the post and into Ini’s hands.

St George’s FC R Marmara, C Grech, A Bonello, E Sevasta, A Abela, L Rocha dos Santos, E Amaira, H Schembri, D Zarb (Boutahir), JL Ruiz (N Curmi), W S Azvedo (Bonello)

Lija Athletic E A Ini, T Fleri Soler, C Giordemaina, D Scerri, E Beu (E Briffa), R Conceicao, G Camilleri, K Darmanin, A Schembri, M Fleri Soler, A Ige

Referee Marco Borg

Scorers Ruix 20’, Darmanin (pen) 84’

Yellow cards Camilleri, Bonello, Fleri Soler T, Abela, Darmanin, Scerri, Marmara

Red card G Camilleri

Penalty sequence

Sevasta (SG): scored, Ige (LJ): missed, Boutahir (SG): (scored), Conceicao (LJ): (scored), Bonello (SG): (missed), Briffa (LJ): (scored), Bonello (SG): (scored), Ini (LJ): (scored), Curmi (scored), Darmanin (LJ): (scored), Amaira (SG): (scored), Scicluna (LJ): (missed)