Early goal sees Gzira through
Gzira U 1
SK Victoria 0
Gzira United qualified to the fourth round of the U*BET FA Trophy beating Gozitan side SK Victoria Wanderers in a very low profile match. The goal scored by Yanis Tonna after only ten minutes was the highlight of this rather boring match.
In fact the goal was spectacular one with a long distance shot that left the Gozitan goalkeeper staring. For the rest of the match Gzira dominated the match but their constant possession of the ball produced very little in front of goal.
The Gozitans did their best as they kept fighting till the final whistle, but it was still not enough for a depleted Gzira side.
Gzira went close on seven minutes when Ryan Deguara’s close range header was saved by Vella. But the Victoria goalkeeper could do nothing three minutes to stop a 30-meter drive from Yanis Tonna which finished in the top corner of the net.
Gzira were the better team and they dictated matters, but the Gozitans almost drew level half way through the half when Paz Reyes tested the Gzira goalkeeper Gerada. Just before the break Gzira had a golden opportunity of scoring a second goal when Yanis Tonna passed towards Ryan Deguara who dribbled past goalkeeper Vella but his shot from an angle hit the side netting.
The pattern was the same in the second half with Gzira in full possession of the match. Yanis Tonna again tried his luck from a distance, but this time his effort went inches wide. Paz Reyes had a good effort going wide.
On 71 minutes Gzira had a very good move but Yanis Tonna’s point blank shot was deflected by defender Udoh. Gzira continued to attack and six minutes from time Karl Saliba missed another good chance for Gzira after a fine solo run.
Gzira U – K. Gerada, K. Saliba (J. Gatt 88’), P. Grima, A. Xuereb, A. White, J. Hussey, Y. Tonna, D. Cachia, S. Shead, A. Shenowo, R. Deguara (A. Effiong 76’).
SK Victoria – F. Vella, E. Bugeja (K. Mercieca 46’), D. Udoh, J.P. Grima, F. Bajada, E. Nwankno Chidi, O. Farrugia,A. Adesina, E. Estrada Sanchez, S. Paz Reyes, C. Sciortino.
Referee – Philip Farrugia
Injury time winner for Gozitan Lions
St Patrick 1
Sannat L 2
The Gozitan Lions from Sannat moved with the last sixteen of the competition thanks to an injury time winner against second division outfit St Patrick.
St Patrick had more of the ball especially in the second half when they pushed for the equaliser. The Saints saved the match on 89 minutes, but the Gozitans had other ideas as they scored a dramatic winner to qualify to the fourth round.
St Patrick were the better team in the opening stages have constant possession of the ball, but they failed to worry the Gozitan goalkeeper. On their part the Gozitan outfit were menacing with their counter breaks keeping the Saints’ defence on edge.
On 21 minutes Sannat Lions took the lead when from a corner action, Ernest Qordya’s cross was met by Mark Muscat who shot home from close range. Three minutes later Sannat went close a second goal when Khyote had a good run on the right flank and his cross was met by Sunday Baala whose low shot was well saved by Grech.
On 27 minutes St Patrick went close with a shot from Scerri that was blocked by goalkeeper Parnis. The Saints pushed forward in the last minutes of the first half with an Ellul lob missing the upright by a whisker, and on the other end a Qordya effort was blocked by Grech.
St Patrick stormed forward in the second half but Sanat had a good chance on 65 minutes with a Qordya shot slightly missing the target. Two minutes later Sannat went close again with a Blader Iath effort going over the bar.
Fifteen minutes from time St Patrick were unlucky when a Keith Muscat header from a Failla freekick hit the crossbar. St Patrick continued to attack and the same Muscat tested Parnis with a grounder.
On 89 minutes St Patrick obtained the equaliser when a Gordon Failla freekick completely deceived the Gozitan goalkeeper. But in stoppage time Sannat had other ideas when Sunday Baala beat a couple of defenders before putting the ball beyond Jonathan Grech’s reach for Sannat’s winner.
St.Patrick: J. Grech; A. Lagana, R. Vella, N. Filipov, C. Vella (K. Muscat) , R. Ellul, I. Scicluna (S. Dimech), L. Scerri, A. Ellul (G. Failla) , A. Guazzo, R. Cassar
Sannat L: A. Parnis, M. Muscat, P. Camilleri, P. Buttigieg, A. Debono, D. Mercieca, S. Baala, E. Qordya, M. Cordina, O. Khyote, B. Iath
Referee: Clayton Pisani
Mqabba qualify with derby win
Zurrieq 1
Mqabba 2
In a rather tense match First Division bottom of the table side Mqabba beat neighbours Zurrieq by the odd goal in three to qualify for the fourth round of the U*BET FA Trophy, of which the draws will be made today.
After a dull first half, the match lit up in the second fourty five minutes with Mqabba worthy winners but with Zurrieq fighting till the final whistle of the match.
The first half was well played especially by Zurrieq who had more of the ball and even hit the upright. To be fair it was a rather tame first half with very few scoring chances.
Zurrieq had an attempt through Zammit but his shot was well saved by the Mqabba goalkeeper Kris Calleja. On 22 minutes Mqabba created their best move of the first half when Peter Anizoba passed to the unmarked Emiliano Lattes who shot slightly over the bar from and acute angle.
On 35 minutes Zurrieq were unlucky when a Matthew Schembri freekick beat Calleja but the ball was stopped by the crossbar. Just before the end of the first half Zurrieq had another chance, through another freekick by Glenn Bonello with the ball going well over the bar.
Mqabba forged ahead two minutes from the restart when Peter Anizoba passed towards Spas Spasov, and the ex St Patrick player dribbled past the goalkeeper and slotted the ball in an empty net. On 52 minutes Zurrieq very close to an equaliser when an Adams short range header was brilliantly saved by Calleja.
Four minutes later Mqabba were very unlucky not to double the score when a Lattes scorcher slammed against the upright with Alden completely beaten. The game was now entertaining and Zurrieq went again close with a Glenn Bonello effort.
On 74 minutes Mqabba doubled the score when Emiliano Lattes finished off in style a great move between Anizoba and Spasov. But the game was not over yet as six minutes from time Zurrieq reduced the gap thanks to a Benjamin Adams goal who scored from close range.
But there was no time left for Zurrieq to make a full recovery as Mqabba defended well their slender lead to move forward in the competition.
Zurrieq – J. Alden, K. Sacco, D. Stojanovic, K. Magro, J. Lia, D. Zammit, M. Schembri, M. Cocks (T. Borg 87’), S. Azzopardi, G. Bonello, B. Adams
Mqabba – K. Calleja, A. Scicluna, M. Sciortino, J. Anegbe, A. Caligari, S. Spasov, C. Cutajar, C. Camion, A. Williams, E. Lattes, P. Anizoba (D. Azzopardi 90’).
Referee – Jude Utulu
Nadur outclass Zejtun to move to fourth round
ZEJTUN C. 1
NADUR Y. 3
Nadur Youngsters made it a day to remember for the Gozitan clubs when they beat Zejtun 3-1 to move to the fourth round of the U*BET FA Trophy, becoming the second club to do so, after Sannat’s victory over St Patrick in the other match at The Sirens Ground.
Nadur were worthy winners as they outclassed their rivals from the First Division league. Zejtun had more possession, but the Gozitans played aggressive, direct football that had the Zejtun defence reeling. Ex player Kalin Ganchev played a blinder against his former club even scoring a breath taking goal.
After a good start from the Maltese club, Nadur forged ahead in their first real danger on 17 minutes when Ganchev passed towards Milos Stojanovic who beat Farrugia with a precise grounder.
Nadur had a very good patch going close on several instances with the ever present Ganchev. On 30 minutes luck turned its backon Zejtun when an Adrian Carabott shot hit the base of the upright and a minute later Nadur doubled the score. Claudio Antunes beat the offside trap and chipped the ball over the onrushing Ranier Farrugia.
It was an uphill task now for Zejtun, and it became worse on 56 minutes when Kalin Ganchev was finally rewarded for his efforts when he scored a beauty giving Farrugia no chance to save. On 63 minutes Zejtun pulled one back when Matthew Borg scored following a well taken corner by Edward Azzopardi.
Zejtun pushed for more but were found wanting in attack as they lacked ideas and rarely worried the Nadur stubborn defensive set up. Substitute Kenneth Abela had the last attempt of the game but Grima saved in style and the final whistle found the Gozitans in glory for a well deserved victory
Zejtun C - R, Farrugia; K. Vassallo, C. Magro, M. Borg, E. Azzopardi, H. Chaib (D. Zarb 71’), Z. Vukovic, B. Gockaj (A. Farrugia 50’), A. Carabott, S. Simtchatcha (K. Abela 57’) , R. De Gabriele
Nadur Y - M. Grima, B. Meilaq, P. Camilleri, S. Attard, S. Muller, C. Mercieca (A. Simoncic 79’), C. Hili, M. Stojanovic, C. Antunes, K. Ganchev ( A. Portelli 83’), F. Camilleri (C. Debono 88’)
Referee: Sandro Spiteri