Tarxien reach U*BET FA Trophy semi-finals — Qormi through after penalty shoot-out

Tarxien Rainbows secured a place in the semi-finals of the U*BET FA Trophy after defeating First Division side Balzan Youths 2-0.

Two goals by Brazilian duo Anderson Ribeiro and Denni killed the Youths’ hopes, after they had eliminated two Premier League sides in the previous rounds, namely Msida St. Joseph and Dingli Swallows.

Tarxien had the first shot at goal on the 4th minute when off a Denni Rocha Dos Santos short freekick, Everton Antonio Pereira hit high.

On the 14th minute, Jonathan Francica pulled Denni down inside the area. Referee Kevin Azzopardi and Anderson Mendes Ribeiro made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Balzan replied with a Simon Shead effort from the left ending high on 22 minutes.

The Rainbows doubled the score on 34 minutes when off a David Camilleri freekick from the right, Everton Antonio Pereira failed to connect but Denni Rocha Dos Santos placed the ball at the back of the net from close range.

Tarxien went close once again on the 40th when Gianluca Calabretta entered the area from the left and had a first attempt blocked by Fredrick Tabone, Calabretta took the rebound serving Mark Tanti whose first-time effort was cleared off the goal-line by Simon Aquilina.

Substitute Aaron Agius concluded a good run on the left on 67 minutes with a low shot which was parried by goalkeeper David Cassar. Seven minutes later, an Ivan Zammit freekick from the right was blocked by the Tarxien goalie. Shead headed just wide following a cross from the right on 76 minutes. On the other side of the pitch, a powerful drive by substitute Kurt Magro just missed the target.

TARXIEN David Cassar, Manuel Caruana, David Camilleri, Gianluca Calabretta (72’ Luke Vella Critien), Everton Antonio Ribeiro (85’ James Shead), Mark Tanti (61’ Kurt Magro), Andrew Decesare, Denni Rocha Dos Santos, Ryan Mintoff, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Warren Zerafa, Lee Galea, Ryan Grech.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Asst. Coach: Michael Church

BALZAN Fredrick Tabone, Simon Aquilina, Jonathan Francica, Roderick Farrugia, David Agius, Glenn Tanti (46’ Ivan Zammit), Bjorn Bondin (46’ Aaron Agius), David Fenech, Simon Shead (83’ Lydon Micallef), Peter Anizoba.
Subs not used: Joshua Galea, Michael Borg, Clayton Caruana, Clint Micallef.
Asst. Coach: Robert Agius

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Philip Agius, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna
Yellow Cards: Shead
Scorers: 15’ Anderson Mendes Ribeiro (pen), 34’ Denni Rocha Dos Santos

In the other quarter-final, Qormi defeated Hibernians 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

The Yellows therefore revenged the defeat to Hibs on penalties in the National League 100 Anniversary Cup third round in November.

Hibernians missed a good opportunity after just four minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Jonathan Bondin on Ben Camilleri inside the area. However Andrew Cohen hit the foot of the post from the penalty spot.

Qormi replied with a shot by Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo from the right which was neutralised by Mario Muscat on the 14th. Two minutes later, a powerful shot by Jonathan Caruana for the Paolites was deflected into a corner. Elton Morelato then went close with a header on 29 minutes following a Callejas corner. Two minutes later, Edward Herrera entered the area from the right but his low shot was parried by Matthew Farrugia.

Three minutes in the second half, Elton Morelato had a fine shot from the left turned into a corner by the Qormi custodian. Six minutes later, Mario Muscat rushed to the edge of the area to anticipate Alfred Effiong with the Qormi players claiming that the Hibs goalie handled the ball outside the area.

Qormi managed to take the lead on 62 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Alfred Effiong was brought down inside the area. Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo converted to put the Yellows ahead.

Hibs levelled matters on 74 minutes when off an Andrew Cohen freekick from the left, Jonathan Pearson flicked the ball home past goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

With the score still 1-1 at the end of the ninety minutes, the game went into extra-time.

Two minutes in the second half of extra-time, Camilo went really close to putting Qormi ahead once again but this angled shot was deflected into a corner by Mario Muscat.

On the 115th minute, Qormi were reduced to ten men after Alfred Effiong received a second yellow card for simulation.

In the final minute of extra-time, Andrew Cohen had a low shot from outside the area hitting the foot of the upright before goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia managed to save. On the other side, Camilo had a powerful shot ending just wide and another fine shot parried by Muscat.

Penalties therefore had to decide the issue.
Christian Callejas (H) scored, Joseph Farrugia (Q) scored;
Elton Morelato (H) scored, Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo (Q) scored;
Jonathan Pearson (H) scored, Matthew Bartolo (Q) scored;
Triston Caruana (H) – penalty saved by Farrugia, Ramon Dos Santos (Q) scored;
Andrew Cohen (H) hit the upright

HIBS Mario Muscat, Adrian Pulis, Edward Herrera, Aaron Xuereb (72’ Yan Cauchi), Jonathan Pearson, Jonathan Caruana, Christian Callejas, Miguel Lopes De Pina (15’ Jean Paul Farrugia) (114’ Triston Caruana), Elton Morelato, Andrew Cohen, Ben Camilleri.
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Matthew Tabone, Chris Camilleri, Ndubisi Chukunyere.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Edmond Lufi

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Duncan Pisani, Ramon Dos Santos, Massimo Grima, Keith Fenech (113’ Steve Meilak), Alfred Effiong, Joseph Farrugia, Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo, Ryan Deguara (46’ Matthew Bartolo), Jonathan Bondin, Stephen Wellman.
Subs not used: Matthew Camilleri, Malcolm Buttigieg, Kenneth Spiteri, Gabriel Buttigieg, Roderick Sammut.
Coach: Vince Carbonaro
Team Manager: Jesmond Zerafa

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Gordon Barbara
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: J. Farrugia, Morelato, Herrera, Xuereb, Effiong, B. Camilleri, M. Grima
Red Cards: 115’ Alfred Effiong
Scorers: 62’ Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo (pen)(Q); 74’ Jonathan Pearson (H)