First Division side Lija Athletic eliminated Premier League strugglers Naxxar Lions in the only surprise result so far in the FA Trophy third round. Tarxien Rainbows, Qormi and Sliema Wanderers also reached the next stage, therefore joining Balzan, Birkirkara, Floriana, Hibernians, Pembroke Athleta and St. Andrews, First Division sides Gzira United, Melita, Pietà Hotspurs, St. George’s and Second Division side Gharghur.

The only remaining fourth round spot will be decided on January 6 as Xewkija Tigers face Valletta.

Lija Athletic defeated Naxxar Lions 1-0 at the Centenary Stadium and will be now meeting Floriana in the fourth round. Jorge Garcia Vidal notched the winner for Lija on the 71st minute.

LIJA Kurt Rizzo, Clayton Giordimaina, Predrag Babic, Patrick Borg, Erjon Beu, Lee Joe Schembri (75′ Roderick Taliana), Michael Borg, Adrian Caruana, Beppe Antignolo (69′ Mark Hyzler), Jorge Garcia Vidal, Abdullahi Ige Adeshina (81 Antoine Borg).
Coach: Brian Spiteri

NAXXAR Luke Pecorella, Blazo Rajovic, Luca Lodetti, Thomas Sarina (72′ Demba Toure), Daren Falzon, Duane Bonnici (54′ Richard Carlos Cardozo), Jose Angel Godar Pereira, Jurgen Debono, David Fenech, Angus Buhagiar, Emiliano Lattes.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Sammy Attard
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia

In another match at the Centenary Stadium, Qormi registered a narrow win over Ghajnsielem to set-up a fourth round clash with Tarxien Rainbows.

Tensior Gusman scored the all-important goal on the 66th minute.

QORMI Andreas Vella, Immy Micallef, Emerson Vella (46′ Joshua Barbara), Tensior Gusman (86′ Clint Barbara), Ousmane Sidibe, Clifford Gauci, Ryan Micallef, Yannick Yankam (72′ Kurt Magro), Djamel Leeflang, Noah Olawole Ujuola.

GHAJNSIELEM Franklin Vella, Ferdinando Apap, Charles Hili, Milos Stojanovic, Kenneth Mercieca, Joseph Vella, Shaun Bajada, Dhonatan Santos da Hora, Yannick Ossok, Charlon Grima (87 Joseph Attard), Antonio Xuereb (84′ Kenny Hili).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Chris Francalanza
Fourth Official: Mario Apap

Sliema Wanderers also registered a narrow win over First Division side Vittoriosa Stars at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. A penalty by Alex Muscat two minutes from the end of the first half made the whole difference. The Wanderers will be facing Second Division side Gharghur in the next round.

VITTORIOSA James Mercieca, Ryan Previ, Clive Spiteri (88′ Andreas Galea), Dion Fava, Petar Mrvic, Mark Barbara, Gianluca Sultana (64′ Charles Newuche Nnaemeka), Milan Lukic, Michael Camilleri, Ryan Degiorgio (57′ Tommaso Nasiti), Steve Meilaq.
Coach: Richard Mercieca

SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, Michael Mifsud (82′ Christian Fernando Toro Perdomo), Rafael Ledesma, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Marko Potezica, Peter Xuereb (74′ Mark Scerri), Aidan Jake Friggieri (90+1′ Kyle Hendry), Johann Bezzina, Gary Muir, Luke Dimech.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi
Referee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit

Tarxien Rainbows defeated First Division side Zebbug Rangers 4-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos converted a penalty to put Tarxien ahead on the 26th and Luke Montebello doubled the score nine minutes later. Angelo Catania pulled one back on the 64th but goals by Triston Caruana on the 88th and Ayrton Azzopardi on the 89th secured victory for Jacques Scerri’s side.

The Rainbows will be meeting Qormi in the fourth round.

ZEBBUG Justin Spiteri, Raimi Bakare, Godwin Mckay, Kurt Zammit (83′ Omar Rababah), Angelo Catania, Sergio Hili, Matthew Gauci (58′ Iousef Meli), Keith Vella (81′ Karl Sacco), Roderick Spiteri, Lee Galea, Diego Fernando Pereira.
Coach: Alfred Attard

TARXIEN Sean Mintoff, Ebiabowei Baker, Timothy Tabone Desira, Brandon Muscat, Ayrton Azzopardi, Roderick Bajada (81′ Triston Caruana), Carlos Menendez Hevia, Luke Montebello, Daniel Zerafa, Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos (83′ Ren Mizugashira), Anderson Raimundo da Silva (71′ Lucky Omeruo).
Coach: Jacques Scerri

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Martin Borg
Fourth Official: Marco Borg