St. Andrew's FC. 0
Valletta FC. 4
St. Andrews FC: Nicholas Grima, Ian Azzopardi, Miguel D'Alessandro, Ricardo Martin, Nicholas Bradshaw (Mattia Veselji 68'), Kemar David Reid, Joseph Farrugia (Jamie Sixsmith 68'), Daniel Curmi, Alan Borg Olivier, Kemmu Degran Jackson, William Camilleri.
Valletta FC: Yenz Cini, Steve Borg (Eslit Sala 55'), Ryan Camilleri, Shaun Dimech, Kyrian Nwoko, Jean Borg, Joseph Zerafa, Douglas Packer, Nicholas Pulis, Mario Fontanella (Ryan Tonna 70'), Kevin Tulimieri.
Referee: Andrea Sciriha
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Champions and last year's finalists Valletta had an easy walk in the park when they defeated St. Andrew's by four goals to nil.
After a rather bumpy start to this campaign Valletta have gathered momentum and presently share third place in the BOV Premier League winning four out of the last five matches.
Their opponents St. Andrews are third in the BOV First Division and in the FA Trophy second round, they defeated Marsaxlokk 3-1.
Valletta took the lead on 18 minutes through Jean Borg. Nine minutes later it was Douglas Packer's turn to double the score for the Citizens.
Goals kept coming at regular intervals and on the hour hour defender Steve Borg scored Valletta's third. With the same playing added the fourth and final goal nine minutes from the break.
In the second half Valletta took it easy with coach Darren Abdilla taking this opportunity and introducing a number of new players.
Kercem Ajax or Sirens will be Valletta's opponents in the next round.
Tarxien R. 1
Hamrun S. 2
Tarxien R.: R. Briffa, D. Mambouana, G. Camilleri, A. Andrejic, B. Muscat, S. Shaba (A. Tenorio 53), M. Stanaojevic, N. Portelli (T. Veronese 46), M. Ciantar (D. Vassallo 71), P. Kanzurov, D. Zerafa
Hamrun S.: JC Debattista, T. Caruana, AJ Soares, W. Domoraud (R. Darmanin 71), C. Failla (M. Gauci 71), N. Leone, L. Soufiane, M. Criaco (C. Cutajar 78), K. Micallef, A. Capitelli, M. Cinquini
Referee: F. Zammit
Asst refs: T. Zammit, D. Spencer
4th official: D. Agius
Scorers: W. Domoraud 4, 27 penalty, P. Kanzurov 83
Yellow cards: D. Mambouana 51, D. Zerafa 66, B. Muscat 74, M. Gauci 77
Hamrun S. are through to the 4th round after beating Premier League bottom side Tarxien Rainbows. They now meet Swieqi United in the fourth round. Hamrun were in command for most of the match. Having led 2-0 at the interval, they seemed to be home and dry but near the end of the match, they were made to sweat a little after the Rainbows pulled one back.
The Spartans, who had central defender Nikolopoulos missing - he is ruled out till the end of the season with a cruciate injury - had wrapped up the match by the end of the first half as they led comfortably 2-0.
The Rainbows, without a single point in the Premier League standings, shared the exchanges, but were found wanting up front.
Hamrun took the lead after just 4 minutes through a fine overhead kick by Wilfried Domoraud and the same player added a second goal on 37 minutes from a penalty.
In the second half, Domoraud contrived to miss two good chances before he was substituted, thus failing to obtain his hat-trick and seven minutes from time, Tarxien were back in the match through a Petar Kanzurov goal. But it was not enough for them to force extra time.
Mqabba-Pieta H 0-3
Mqabba: F. Tabone, E. Zammit (K. Camilleri 62'), Y. Omuro, I. Margarit (D. Carabott 43'), A. Ferreira, K. Magro (F. Zammit 62'), J. Micallef, P. Chimezie, A. Makela, N. Micallef, M. Caruana
Pieta H: J. Chircop, T. Bartolo (D. Vukovic 73'), N. Pace Cocks, J. Bone (J. Delmar 59'), C. Gauci (S. Pisani 65'), K. Mifsud, J.L. Caetano, S. Mizzi, L. Mckay, I. Jalo, J. Scicluna
Referee: Mario Apap
Scorers: J. Lucas Caetano 37' pen, 44' pen, J. Scicluna 58'
Pieta eased their way to the fourth round of the FA Trophy, beating ten-man Mqabba by three clear goals. The result is a bit harsh on Mqabba who were the better till the first penalty from which Pieta took the lead.
After a couple of minutes Mqabba were dangerous when a Margarit grounder just missed the base of the upright. Mqabba had other attempts at goal that missed the target and against the run of play Pieta forged ahead on 37 minutes when Ferreira handled the ball inside the box and Jose Lucas Caetano made no mistake from the spot.
Eight minutes later in a fast break, Bone passed towards Caetano who had his first effort brilliantly saved by Tabone, and from the rebound Caetano was floored by Tabone, with the referee awarding Pieta a second penalty and rightly showing Tabone the red card. From the penalty spot Caetano kept his cool to beat Carabott.
On the resumption Ferreira missed a sitter for Mqabba, and on 58 minutes James Scicluna sealed the issue with a third goal for Pieta.
Gzira U. 1
Senglea Ath. 2
Gzira U.: J. Haber, F. Barbosa, G. Conti, Z. Scerri, R. Soares, A. Cohen, C. Gatt Baldacchino, H. Kone, A. Oyama, M. Davis, J. De Assis.
Senglea Ath.: M. Farrugia, S. Olberkis, D. Debono, E. Sakyi, M. Micallef (J. Tanti 61), GN Virano (L. Grech 72), T. Marukawa (K. Pulo 85), JW Teixeira, S. Cipriott, M. Todorovic, M. Dias.
Referee: M. Degabriele
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, J. Spiteri
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: Z. Scerri 56, J. Tanti 74, Yellow cards: R. Soares 42, F. Barbosa 54, GN Virano 66, E. Sakyi 66, M. Dias 90.
Attendance: 471
Senglea provided the first real shock of the competition yesterday as they eliminated the more fancied Gzira by the odd goal in three. It was a come from behind win for the Athletic who gave as much as they got in a keenly contested encounter.
Gzira disappointed their followers with an unconvincing performance. There were only two actions worthy of note in the first half. De Assis had an effort from an acute angle hitting the bar and Senglea's Mano went close with a header which also hit the crossbar.
The match became livelier in the second half as Gzira took the lead through Zach Scerri on 56 minutes, but Senglea hit back to equalize through Jan Tanti in the 74th minute.
Jefferson was unlucky to hit the upright for Gzira in the 80th minute. Senglea took the lead on 84 minutes when off a Marukawa cross, it was Grech who headed past Haber.
Thus, Senglea took sweet revenge on the Maroons after having lost the league encounter between the two teams 3-1 last Monday.
Balzan FC 3
San Gwann FC 0
Balzan made it to the fourth round of the Malta FA Trophy when they beat Second Division outfit San Gwann by 3 goals to nil. It was an easy passage for Balzan who were by far superior to their opponents.
For Balzan, holders of this Competition, this was their first match in this year's edition being one of the Premier League sides. On the other hand, San Gwann had defeated Marsa by a 2-0 scoreline in the Second Round.
After the initial exchanges Balzan took the lead nearing the half hour mark when Michael Johnson found the net. The Premier League side kept dominating the proceedings and just before the break they doubled their lead through their prolific striker Andrija Majdevac.
With a two-goal cushion Balzan controlled the match in the second forty five minutes and managed to find the net on 77 minutes when veteran forward Alfred Effiong sealed the issue.
Balzan's opponents in the next round will be a much superior opponent when they face either Sliema Wanderers or Santa Lucia.
Balzan FC: Kristijan Naumovski, Marcus Grima (Adam Bradshaw 66'), Dale Camilleri, Nenad Sljivic, Zachary Karl Grech, Michael Johnson, Alfred Effiong, Ivan Bozovic, Stefan Dimic (Arthur Faria Machado 59'), Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte, Andrija Majdevac (Zak Grech 76')
San Gwann FC: Cain Formosa, Nezar Abouhaisa (Matthew Xuereb 69'), Jean Paul Attard, Luca Mallia (Andrea Zammit 76'), Christian Gauci, Owen Spiteri, Zack Bowman Courage Omoruanzoje (Andrew Abela 64'), Joao Pedro Vargas, Glen Pace, Adam Falzon
Referee: Daniel Portelli
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Gudja U- Lija A 3-0
Gudja U: T. Aquilina, J. Farrugia, G. Mensah (T. Al Mahrooqi 83'), A. Friggieri, J. Brincat (P.P. Sammut 68'), A. De Barros (D. Grima 78'), M. Jimenez, L. Cremona, J. Bolanos, J. Grioli, A. Miranda.
Lija A: D. Galea (L. Bonnici 55'), C. Cassar, L. Muscat (P. Soares Gusso 68'), D. Scerri, E. Beu, H. Wood, G. Borg (A. Azzopardi 68'), K. Seakanyeng, C. Giordimaina, C. Gauci, J. Wells.
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Scorers: A. Friggieri 5', M. Jimenez 52', A. De Barros 72'
Gudja proved to be too strong for gallant First Division leaders Lija Athletic who gave their all but had to surrender to a better outfit.
Gudja had an impressive start taking the lead on five minutes when Jurgen Farrugia's cross from the left was met by Aiden Friggieri who headed beautifully home. Lija took some time to settle down, but after a difficult start they shared the exchanges with their opponents.
An Erjon Beu was headed by gabriel Borg with the ball just missing the upright. On 30 minutes Beu again crossed from the left, but Borg just failed to connect in front of goal. Before the break a James Brincat shot skimmed the crossbar.
On the resumption Beu tested Aquilina from an acute angle and on 52 minutes Gudja doubled the score when Jimenez, put through by Cremona, drilled the ball home. Twenty minutes later Gudja increased their lead with De Barros firing in the roof of the net from close range.