Qormi-Swieqi 2-2

Qormi: J. Azzopardi, C. Farrugia (C. Debattista 68'), B. Grech (S. Grech 64'), C. Matombo, R. Silva Santos (G. Sammut 85'), M. Borg, A. Abela, F. Gusman, A. Cassar, N. Ghio, T. Gusman (N. Gauci 90').

Swieqi U: C. Abdilla, A. Schembri Wismayer, L. Zammit (M. De Albuquerque 77'), S. Gatt Baldacchino (A. Shaw 59'), M. Ivanovic, S. Ibrahim (F. Nunes Fernandes 68'), M. Farrugia, A. Ayorinde, G. Bugeja, J. Azzopardi, D. Borg.

Referee: Alex Johnson

Penalties promoted Swieqi to the next round of an entertaining match in which Swieqi built a two-goal lead, with Qormi making a great comeback and missing out on victory when Matombo failed to score from the penalty spot six minutes from time.

Swieqi had a very good start taking a two-goal lead inside the first quarter of the match. On eleven minutes from a corner action, Ebenezer Ayorinde rose above all others to head powerfully home. Qormi failed to react and their defence looked fragile too.

The absence of Gnindokponou who suffered an injury in the warming up, was a severe blow for the boys in yellow, and on 22minutes Swieqi doubled the score when Ebenezer Ayorinde was again on the mark when his deflected low shot finished at the back of the net.

Qormi came back to life on 33 minutes when they managed to pull one back. An Allessio Cassar close range header was brilliantly saved by Abdilla but Tensior Gusman was on hand to drill the ball home from the rebound.

Sixty seconds later Swieqi almost regained their two goal advantage, when goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi lost possession of the ball with Salis Ibrahim having an attempt at goal, but his shot was cleared off the goal line by Francesco Gusman.

In the second half Qormi were the better team and obtained a deserved equaliser on 73 minutes when Michael Borg scored a gem direct from a freekick. Six minutes from time Qormi had a golden opportunity when they were a penalty but Matombo blasted over the bar.

The game went to extra time and eventually to penalties with Qormi captain Alessio Cassar missing the vital one.

 

Pembroke A-Zabbar SP     6-0

Pembroke A: P. Schranz, Y. Shaba, A. Vujovic, D. Isakovic, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (C. Camilleri 60'), G. Azzopardi, T. Fenech, L. Mijic, N. Frendo, J.P. Oliveira Santos (M. Zarb 68'), Y. Tonna (D. Todorovski 60').

Zabbar SP: L. Lagana, C. Abela, C. Magro, E. Goodman (D. Grech 46'), S. Vella, C. Camilleri, G. Bonavia, N. Grech, E. Grech, A. Agius, C. Barbara (P.S. Ellul 46').

Referee: Massimo Axisa

Scorers: J.P. Mifsud Triganza 15' pen, L. Mijic 30', 34', 61', J.P. Oliveira Santos 40', D. Todorovski 87'

Luka Mijic scored a hat-trick as Pembroke crushed Zabbar to advance to the last sixteen stages of the competition. Pembroke smarting from two heavy defeats in the First Division League, were too strong for Zabbar who were practically always on the receiving end.

The match was practically over by the end of the first half as Pembroke had already built a four-goal cushion. Pembroke were too strong for Zabbar who resisted for the first fifteen minutes but then were completely outclassed.

On fifteen minutes Pembroke won a penalty for a handling infringement and from the penalty spot Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza made no mistake. On the half hour Pembroke doubled the score when Mifsud Triganza crossed from the left flank towards Luka Mijic who fired in the top corner of the net even though from a rather acute angle.

Zabbar had nothing to offer and on 33 minutes the same Luka Mijic was again on the mark beating the offside trap and the onrushing goalkeeper with a low drive. Five minutes from the break Pembroke made it four when Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos anticipated goalkeeper Lagana to hit home from close range.

In the second half Pembroke slowed the pace but added another goal on 61 minutes when Luka Mijic obtained his hat trick with a grounder from the edge of the area. Three minutes from time Pembroke made it six when substitute Darko Todorovski headed home from a corner action.