Tarxien Rainbows and Senglea Athletic were the first two teams to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy after defeating Lija Athletic and Vittoriosa Stars respectively at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Tuesday.

The Rainbows defeated First Division side Lija Athletic 3-0 in the first match.

Alex Nilsson put Tarxien ahead on the 8th minute and the same player doubled the score on the half-hour. Julian Galea sealed the issue with a third goal fifteen minutes from time.

TARXIEN Philip Schranz, Ebiabowei Baker, Julian Galea, Alex Nilsson (65′ Dylan Micallef), Ayrton Azzopardi, Andrew Agius, Emerson Marcelina (76′ Matthew Brincat), Daniel Zerafa, Alex da Paixao Alves, Matthew Tabone (60′ Claudio Frances), Sacha Borg.

LIJA Tyrone Gauci, Carl Cassar, Predrag Babic, Patrick Borg, Daniel Scerri, Erjon Beu (60′ Yanis Tonna), Aaron Sammut, Aiden Galea (74′ Kurt Drakard), Jorge Garcia Vidal, McAllister Clinch (27′ Antoine Borg), Ryan Sammut.

Referee: Etienne Mangion

In the second match, Senglea beat Vittoriosa Stars 2-1 after extra-time in the Cottonera derby. Two teams from the BOV First Division who are currently challenging for promotion.

Austin Obaje Smith put Senglea ahead on the 37th minute but Andreas Galea levelled matters to force extra-time. Eleven minutes in the fist half of extra-time, Senglea regained the lead thanks to a goal by Terence Vella to secure a place in the next stage.

VITTORIOSA James Mercieca, Leighton Grech (37′ Obinna Obiefule), Andre Farrugia (79′ Elvis Pajo), Duncan Pisani, Ryan Previ, Clive Spiteri, Tristan Abela Wilson, Peter Mrvic, Andreas Galea, Joseph Jojo Ogunnupe, Gianluca Sultana (46′ Dylan Sammut).

SENGLEA Jonathan Martinelli, Randall Vella, Jurgen Farrugia (91′ Mark Tanti), Keith Tanti, Cesco Guzman, Pablo Doffo, Hubert Vella, Ryan Dalli (91′ Christian Cassar), Austin Obaje Smith, Terrence Vella, Marcelo de Souza Dias.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann