Ghajnsielem, SK Victoria Wanderers, and Xewkija Tigers defeated First Division sides to secure a place in the third round of the FA Trophy as another eight second round matches were played on Sunday.
First Division side Marsa beat Gozitan side Kercem Ajax 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the end of the ninety minutes and a 3-3 draw after extra-time in a most dramatic clash at the Gozo Stadium.
Marsa seemed heading towards a comfortable win after taking the lead one minute from the end of the first half thanks to Tomas Andrade Alvarez and doubling the score two minutes in the second half through Luis Andre De Melo. However two minutes in added time, Trayo Grozev reduced the gap and an Ognjen Rolovic penalty, two minutes later, restored equilibrium.
Four minutes in extra-time, Luis Andre De Melo had a penalty saved by the goalkeeper but another penalty, a minute later, converted by Yessous Camilleri put Marsa 3-2 ahead. However three minutes from the end of the second half of extra-time, Phil Taylor levelled matters to force the penalty shoot-out. Lucky Omeruo, Kento Sakurai, Luis Andre de Melo, Tomas Andrade Alvarez and Yessous Camilleri scored the five penalties for Marsa while Petar Kyumyurdzhiev, Trayo Grozev, Jean Paul Mizzi and Phil Taylor scored for Kercem.
Gozitan First Division side SK Victoria Wanderers eliminated First Division side Melita, beating them 2-1 at the Centenary Stadium. An own goal put the Wanderers ahead on the 2nd minute and Srdjan Draskovic doubled the score on the 34th. Matthew Groves scored a consolation goal for Melita on the 61st minute.
In another match at the Centenary Stadium, Xewkija Tigers defeated First Division side Qormi 4-1. Daniel Bogdanovic put the Blacks ahead on the 27th minute and Thiago Melo dos Santos doubled the score four minutes in the second half. An own goal on the 67th minute increased the lead further before Daniel Bogdanovic scored the fourth goal for Jesmond Zammit’s side eight minutes from time. Lawrence Chiedozie pulled one back for Qormi on the 84th minute.
Lija Athletic defeated Gozitan side St. Laurence Spurs 5-0 at the Charles Abela Stadium. Aiden Galea put Lija ahead on the 8th minute and the same player doubled the score on the 63rd. From then onwards, Lija never looked back and increased the lead further through Jorge Garcia Vidal on the 70th, a Predrag Babic penalty on the 73rd and an Aiden Galea penalty on the 83rd.
Senglea Athletic found no difficulty in beating Gozitans Xaghra United 7-1 at the Sirens Stadium. A brace by Juninho Cabral on the 5th and 13th paved the way for Pablo Doffo’s side. Aud-gustine James Obaje made it 3-0 on the 18th and the same player added another on the 35th. Marcelo de Souza Dias scored the fifth goal four minutes later and three minutes from the end of the first half, Gerald Tushe pulled one back for Xaghra. However on the 64th, Kenneth Abela scored the sixth goal and eight minutes from time, Ryan Dalli made it 7-1.
In another match at the Sirens Stadium, Ghajnsielem beat First Division side Naxxar Lions 4-1. John Sandoval opened the score for the Blacks on the 32nd minute and eight minutes later, John Camilleri made it 2-0. Just before half-time, Damon Hili scored the third goal for Ghajnsielem. Lubos Adamec reduced the gap on the 62nd but Raphael Kooh Sohna made it 4-1 seven minutes from time.
At the Gozo Stadium, Gozitans Victoria Hotspurs defeated Second Division side Zejtun Corinthians on penalties following a 1-1 draw. A penalty by Alan Tabone on the 12th minute gave Zejtun the lead but Miguel Montano equalised two minutes from time. No goals were scored in extra time. In the penalty shoot-out, the Hotspurs scored four through Shaun Attard, Miguel Montano, Henrique Maciel and Daniel Farrugia and Zejtun three thanks to Adrian Carabott, Alan Tabone and Kumpei Tanaka as Isaac Galea hit the crossbar and Anthony Ewurum’s penalty was saved.
In a match at the Charles Abela Stadium, First Division side Mqabba defeated Third Division side Msida St. Joseph 1-0 thanks to a goal by Leontiev Konda eleven minutes from time.
Lija Athletic, Marsa, Mqabba, Senglea Athletic, Ghajnsielem, SK Victoria Wanderers, Victoria Hotspurs and Xewkija Tigers join First Division sides Gharghur, Pietà Hotspurs, Sirens, Vittoriosa Stars, Zebbug Rangers; Second Division sides Birzebbuga St. Peter’s, Mgarr United, Qrendi, San Gwann, Siggiewi and Swieqi United and Gozitans Nadur Youngsters in the third round, along with the twelve Premier League clubs who were awarded a bye. The draws will be held on Tuesday.