Senglea Athletic came back from a goal down to beat Gzira United 2-1 and reach the fourth round of the FA Trophy while Valletta and Gudja United registered comfortable wins in other matches from the third round. Senglea, Valletta and Gudja therefore join Balzan, Hamrun Spartans, Pieta’ Hotspurs, Pembroke Athleta and Swieqi United in the fourth round of the competition.
At the Hibernians Stadium, two substitutes proved decisive for Senglea as they defeated Gzira United 2-1 in a clash between two Premier League clubs.
Zachary Scerri put the Maroons eleven minutes in the second half but substitute Jan Tanti equalised on the 74th minute.
Ten minutes from time, Jefferson was unlucky to hit the foot of the upright for Gzira and on the 84th minute, another substitute, Leighton Grech, notched the winner for Senglea.
Senglea will be facing Floriana or Melita in the fourth round.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”105″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]GZIRA Justin Haber, Fernando Barbosa, Gianmarco Conti, Zachary Scerri, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Hamed Kone, Arthur Henrique Oyama, Martin Davis, Jefferson de Assis.
SENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Sigitas Olberkis, Dejan Debono, Elvis Sakyi, Manolito Micallef (61’ Jan Tanti), Gonzalo Nicolas Virano (72′ Leighton Grech), Taisei Marukawa (86′ Karl Pulo), Jose Wilkson Teixeira, Sean Cipriott, Mirko Todorovic, Marcelo Mariano Dias.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Jurgen Spiteri
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Attendance: 471
At the Centenary Stadium, Valletta scored four in the first half to defeat First Division side St. Andrews 4-0.
Jean Borg gave Valletta the lead on the 18th minute. Douglas Packer doubled the score on the 26th and Steve Borg made it 3-0 on the half-hour. Steve Borg scored a fourth goal six minutes later.
In the next round, Valletta will be facing Kercem Ajax or Sirens.
ST. ANDREWS Nicholas Grima, Ian Azzopardi, Miguel D’Alessandro (85′ Matthew Muscat), Ricardo Martin, Nicholas Bradshaw (68′ Jamie Sixsmith), Kemar David Reid, Joseph Farrugia (68′ Mattia Veselji), Daniel Curmi, Alan Borg Olivier, Kemmu Degran Jackson, William Camilleri.
VALLETTA Yenz Cini, Steve Borg (55′ Eslit Sala), Ryan Camilleri, Shaun Dimech, Kyrian Nwoko, Jean Borg, Joseph Zerafa, Douglas Packer, Nicholas Pulis, Mario Fontanella (70′ Ryan Tonna), Kevin Tulimieri (80′ Jeremy Micallef).
Referee: Andrea Sciriha
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
At the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Gudja United beat First Division leaders Lija Athletic 3-0.
Aidan Jake Friggieri opened the score after just five minutes and eight minutes in the second half, Miguel Antonio Jimenez made it 2-0. Anderson De Barros sealed the issue with a third goal on the 72nd minute.
In the fourth round, Gudja will be facing Zebbug Rangers or Victoria Hotspurs.
GUDJA Timothy Aquilina, Jurgen Farrugia, Gabriel Mensah (83′ Tariq Al Mahrrooqi), Aidan Jake Friggieri, James Brincat (68′ Peter Paul Sammut), Anderson de Barros (78′ Dylan Grima), Miguel Antonio Jimenez, Llywelyn Cremona, Juan Andrews Bolano, Justin Grioli, Allan Ricardo Miranda.
LIJA Dylan Galea (55′ Dylan Galea), Carl Cassar, Leon Muscat (68′ Pedro Luiz Soares Gusso), Daniel Scerri, Erjon Beu, Harry Wood, Gabriel Borg (68′ Andrea Azzopardi), Kabelo Seakanyeng, Clayton Griodimaina, Clfford Gauci, Jordan Wells.
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Thomas Debono