Zejtun, Lija reach FA Trophy quarter-finals

Lija Athletic and First Division side Zejtun Corinthians secured a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy, powered by Boost Diesel, after defeating Tarxien Rainbows and Mosta respectively.

At the Hibernians Stadium, Zejtun surprised Premier League side Mosta, beating them 2-1.

The Corinthians forged ahead seven minutes from the end of the first half thanks to an Adam Smeir header which beat goalkeeper Andreas Vella.

Mosta were reduced to ten men four minutes from time when they had Zachary Brincat sent off. However on the 90th minute, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira managed to level matters.

The game seemed heading for extra-time but Zejtun had other thoughts as two minutes in added time, Johan Castano chested the ball down off a cross by Clayton Giordimaina before hitting home past goalkeeper Vella.

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira, Jan Tanti, Alex Wendel Dos Santos, Kurt Magro, Davide Mansi, Tyrone Farrugia, David Ifeanyi Nworah (71′ Neil Frendo), Dexter Xuereb (53′ Zac Brincat), Ivan Maric, Thomas Veronese.

ZEJTUN  Dunstan Zarb, Diego Albanese, Filippo Andrea Scozzese, Clayton Giordmaina, Yessous Camilleri, Neil Tabone, Omar Elhussieny, Brooke Farrugia (53′ Ryan Dalli), Junki Sato, Johan Alberto Castano, Adam Smeir (65′ Elland Vella).

Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: K. Magro, T. Farrugia (M), J. A. Castano, D. Albanese, E. Vella (Z)
Red Cards: 86′ Zac Brincat

Meanwhile at the Centenary Stadium, Lija Athletic came from behind to beat Tarxien Rainbows 2-1.

The Rainbows took the lead on the 28th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Leejoe Schembri on Ayrton Azzopardi and from the penalty spot, Ricardo Silva Faria converted.

Lija equalised seven minutes in the second half thanks to Ousmane Sidibe who beat goalkeeper Andrea Cassar following an Erjon Beu corner.

Eight minutes later, it was Erjon Beu who slotted the ball past the Tarxien custodian to put Joseph Galea’s side ahead.

Eleven minutes from time, the Rainbows were reduced to ten men after Ricardo Silva Faria received a second yellow card.

TARXIEN Andrea Vella, Andre Scicluna, Ebiabowei Baker (65′ Mater Dieye), Luke Grech, Stefan Radovanovic, Antonio Mitrev, Andrew Agius (75′ Sean Cipriott), Ayrton Azzopardi (78′ Matthew Brincat), Eduard Calin, Ricardo Silva Faria, Samba Tounkara.

LIJA Jonathan Martinelli, Ousmane Sidibe, Predrag Babic, Juan Saavedra (46′ McAllister Clinch), Aaron Sammut, Daniel Scerri, Leejoe Schembri, Claudio Celis (72′ Ryan Sammut), Kei Hirose, Raphael Kooh Sohna, Erjon Beu.

Referee: Stefan Pace
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Saavedra, Agius, Scicluna, Baker, Ricardinho, Babic, Mitrev, Cipriott
Red Cards: 79′ Ricardinho