First-half goals see Balzan through to next round

Holders Balzan qualified for the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy thanks to a 2-0 win over Santa Lucia in a clash between two Premier League clubs.

Balzan, who had defeated San Gwann in the previous round, scored twice during the first half to build a comfortable lead which they managed to keep until the final whistle.

Balzan took the lead on the 15th minute when Arthur Faria Machado was floored inside the area and from the penalty spot, Andrija Majdevac converted.

Seven minutes from the end of the first half, Ivan Bozovic doubled the score for the holders with a cute lob from the right which stunned goalkeeper Aquilina.

BALZAN Kristijan Naumovski, Augustine Loof, Nenad Sljivic, Steve Pisani, Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong (72′ Luke Montebello), Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Arthur Faria Machado, Andrija Majdevac (90′ Marcus Grima), Samir Arab (46’ Steve Bezzina).
Subs not used: Sean Mintoff, Zachary Karl Grech, Michael Johnson, Samuel Barthet.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

SANTA LUCIA Timothy Aquilina, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Kevin Pinheiro Correia, Adam Magri Overend, Jackson David Usuga Mendoza, Diego Luis Mosquera Segura, Kevin Duvan Ante Rosero, Jacob Walker (69′ Daniel Agius), Farid Zuniga, Jamie Zerafa (73′ Jamie Magri Overend), Rei Tachikawa (56′ Omar Elouni).
Subs not used: Ryan Caruana, Neil Micallef, Neil Spiteri, Lee Galea.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

Referee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Mitchell Scerri
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace
Yellow Cards: Zerafa, Arab, Fenech, Mosquera Segura