Challenge League sides Fgura United, Marsa, Msida St. Joseph, Pieta’ Hotspurs, Swieqi United, Zebbug Rangers and Zejtun Corinthians and Gozitan First Division sides Nadur Youngsters and Qala Saints secured a place in the Round of 32 of the IZIBET FA Trophy after they emerged as winners in the nine Preliminary Round matches in programme on Tuesday.
They join Lija Athletic who defeated Kirkop United 2-1 on Tuesday apart from Marsaskala, Xewkija Tigers, Luqa St. Andrews, Mgarr United, Zabbar St. Patrick, Zurrieq, Ghajnsielem and Attard who were awarded a bye.
At the Charles Abela Stadium, Qala Saints defeated Melita 7-5 after extra-time.
Sintayehu Curmi put Qala ahead on the 13th but Benjamin Cassar equalised eight minutes from time and two minutes later, Andre Carlos Penha da Costa made it 2-1 for Melita. However an Igor Nedeljkovic penalty restored equilibrium three minutes from time. In extra-time, Qala went two goals ahead thanks to Joao Vitor Ferrari Silva on the 93rd and Igor Nedeljkovic on the 96th. Andre Carlos reduced the gap for Melita on the 102nd but just before the end of the first half of extra-time, Nathan Chukwudi Njoku made it 5-3. Lucas Baretto da Silva extended the lead six minutes in the second half of extra-time but Andre Carlos scored again for Melita two minutes later. Nedeljkovic scored Qala’s seventh one minute in added time with Andre Carlos scoring a fifth goal for Melita one minute later.
In another match at the Charles Abela Stadium, Msida St. Joseph defeated Xaghra United 5-1.
Victor Ifeanyi Mbata scored three for Msida to put them three goals ahead on the 42nd, 45th (penalty) and 53rd. David Chidera Ejiofor added another on the 66th and after Chirs Camilleri reduced the gap for Xaghra on the 75th, Lian Xuereb scored the Saints’ fifth ten minutes from time.
At the Kercem Ajax Stadium, Marsa came from behind to beat SK Victoria Wanderers 2-1.
Caique Silvio Souza da Silva put the Wanderers ahead on the 2nd minute but Paul Lapira equalised on the 15th and Dylan Agius converted a penalty three minutes later.
In another match at the Kercem Ajax Stadium, Nadur Youngsters defeated St. Andrews 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the end of the ninety minutes and a 2-2 draw at the end of extra-time.
Joao Vitor de Oliveira Florencio put Nadur ahead on the 38th but four minutes later, Christian Mercieca levelled matters. The game went into extra-time and with three minutes to go, William James England handed St. Andrews the lead but Joseph Zammit restored equilibrium just before the final whistle.
In the penalty shoot-out, Joao Vitor Florencio, Stefan Cassar, Joseph Mario Vella, Ian Xuereb and Marcelo Barbosa scored for Nadur, Brayan Samuel Nyetam Junior, Luke Anthony Borg and Nicholas Galea for St. Andrews with William James England missing the penalty for the Saints.
In a third match at the Kercem Ajax Stadium, Fgura United defeated Oratory Youths 2-0 thanks to goals by Dylan Caruana on the 10th and Tobi Akiti one minute later.
At the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Zejtun Corinthians defeated Kercem Ajax 3-2 after extra-time.
Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos put Kercem ahead on the 75th but Matthew Mifsud forced extra-time with a goal two minutes in added time. Kaio Lucas restored the lead one minute in the first half of extra-time but Jairo Santos de Oliveira Filho equalised on the 96th and with two minutes to go, Fahad Bardiro notched the winner for the Corinthians.
Swieqi United defeated St. George’s 5-1 in another match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
Gilberto Martins Leite Carrara put Swieqi ahead thanks to a penalty on the 4th and Ibrahim Salis scored twice on the 38th and 61st to extend the lead. Rudy Cassar reduced the gap on the 62nd but Robinson Blandon Rendon scored a penalty on the 74th and a goal five minutes from time to seal the issue.
In the third game at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Zebbug Rangers beat Tarxien Rainbows 2-1.
An own goal put Tarxien ahead after just two minutes but Stanimir Miloskovic equalised on the 12th and Allan da Silva Oliveira made it 2-1 on the 24th.
Meanwhile at the Centenary Stadium, Pieta’ Hotspurs defeated Senglea Athletic 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the end of regular time and a 2-2 draw at the end of extra-time.
Kian Leonardi put the Hotspurs ahead on the 73rd but a minute later, Christian Grech equalised. The match went into extra-time and Leonardi converted a penalty on the 117th but two minutes later, Alilu Issaka levelled matters. In the penalty shoot-out, Sebastian Esquivel Perdomo and Steve Meilak scored for Senglea and Kurt Briffa, Yuto Morita and Claudio Antunes for the Hotspurs. Clive Gauci and Chrisitan Grech missed for Senglea and Hibiki Mochizuki for Pieta’.