FA Trophy: Sirens through to third round after defeating Rabat

fa-trophy-2016-17Sirens secured a place in the third round of the FA Trophy after defeating Rabat Ajax 2-1 in a direct clash between two First Division sides at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.

Orosco Anonam put Sirens ahead one minute in the second half, Leonardo Gabrieli doubled the score on the 79th and four minutes from time, Ethan Jay Goodman converted a penalty to reduce the gap for Rabat.

In another match at the Centenary Stadium, Vittoriosa Stars came from behind to beat Third Division side Attard 5-1. Firas Aboulezz converted a penalty to put Attard ahead on the 24th minute but Duncan Pisani equalised on the 33rd and Fabjo Dhrami made it 2-1 just before half-time. In the second half, Dhrami scored another three goals on the 77th, 86th and 87th to extend the lead further.

Second Division side Qrendi notched a dramatic 2-1 win over Gozitans Oratory Youths at the Charles Abela Stadium. Everton Felipe da Silva put Oratory ahead on the 12th minute but eleven minutes from time, Dassier Sammut equalised and two minutes in added time, Imole Bashiru put Qrendi in the next stage.

In another match at the Charles Abela Stadium, Mgarr United beat Zabbar St. Patrick 2-1 in a clash between two Second Division sides. Kenneth Aquilina put Mgarr ahead on the 64th and Lazar Doric doubled the score on the 82nd with Shalon Diacono pulling one back one minute from time.

Swieqi United defeated Gudja United 3-0 in a clash between two Second Division sides at the Luxol Stadium. Following a goalless first half, Kenneth Ekezie put Swieqi ahead on the 58th and nine minutes later, the same player doubled the score. Ion Alin Margarit sealed the issue with a third goal five minutes from time.

Siggiewi defeated St. George’s 3-2 after extra-time in a clash between two Second Division sides at the Luxol Stadium. Anthony Chike Eze put St. George’s ahead on the 64th minute but two minutes from time, Didier Sohna equalise to force extra-time. Sam Vella put Siggiewi ahead on the 96th and ten minutes in the second half of extra-time, Vella added another. Haruna Shola Shodiya reduced the gap for the Cospicua side on the 119th minute.

Nadur Youngsters found no difficulty in beating Second Division side Ghaxaq at the Sirens Stadium. Brandon Said opened the score for the Youngsters and Claudio Antunes doubled the score. In the second half, Claudio Antunes made it 3-0 and Dewide Dos Santos scored the fourth goal.

A goal by Yordan Dimitrov two minutes in the second half gave First Division side Pietà Hotspurs a narrow win over Third Division side Kirkop United at the Sirens Stadium.

Pietà Hotspurs, Sirens, Vittoriosa Stars, Mgarr United, Qrendi, Swieqi United, Siggiewi and Nadur Youngsters join Gharghur, Zebbug Rangers, Birzebbuga St. Peter’s and San Gwann along with the twelve Premier League teams in the third round of the FA Trophy – the draws for which will be held on Tuesday afternoon.

The remaining eight teams will be determined on Sunday.

Sun-23-Oct 15:00 Centenary Stadium Melita vs SK Victoria Wanderers
Sun-23-Oct 17:15 Centenary Stadium Qormi vs Xewkija Tigers
Sun-23-Oct 15:00 Charles Abela Stadium Lija Athletic vs St. Laurence Spurs
Sun-23-Oct 17:15 Charles Abela Stadium Msida St. Joseph vs Mqabba
Sun-23-Oct 15:00 Sirens Stadium Senglea Athletic vs Xaghra United
Sun-23-Oct 17:15 Sirens Stadium Naxxar Lions vs Ghajnsielem
Sun-23-Oct 15:00 Gozo Stadium Kercem Ajax vs Marsa
Sun-23-Oct 17:00 Gozo Stadium Victoria Hotspurs vs Zejtun Corinthians