FA Trophy: Sta. Venera, Zurrieq through to second round

Third Division sides Sta. Venera Lightnings and Zurrieq were the first two teams to reach the second round of the FA Trophy after eliminating Ta’ Xbiex and Qala Saints respectively at the Charles Abela Stadium on Saturday.

Sta. Venera Lightnings defeated Ta’ Xbiex 4-1. Luca Bugeja put Sta. Venera ahead on the 27th minute and although Riccardo Napoli equalised on the 38th, an Eddie Wileman hat-trick on the 75th, 80th and 94th put the Lightnings in the second round.

The Lightnings will be meeting Second Division side Kalkara in the next round.

Zurrieq registered a 3-1 win over Gozitan side Qala Saints. Gilbert Camilleri opened the score for Zurrieq after just seven minutes and Joseph Buttigieg equalised just past the half-hour. Three minutes from the end of the first half, Leontiev Konda restored the lead for Zurrieq and despite having a player sent off, they extended the lead eight minutes in the second half through Daniel Zammit.

In the second round, Zurrieq will be facing First Division side Qrendi.