Marsaxlokk reached the quarter-finals of the Malta FA Jubilee Cup as they defeated Hibernians 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the end of the ninety minutes.
Hibs managed to take the lead on 29 minutes after Branko Nisevic challenged the referee’s decision not to award a penalty after Nikolai Muscat, asking a FVS (Football Video Support) review and referee Matthew De Gabriele changed his decision with Lucas Villela converting.
Enrico Pepe equalised for Marsaxlokk on 35 minutes with a rising shot from the edge of the area following a short clearance by a defender.
Juvhel Tsoumou headed the ball home off a Leandro Aguirre corner to put Marsaxlokk 2-1 ahead three minutes in added time.
However three minutes later Lucas Caruana surprised goalkeeper Pablo Sanchez with a powerful free kick which was not held by the Spanish custodian to restore equilibrium.
Bjorn Kristensen’s penalty was parried by Sanchez and Nevin Portelli scored. Dexter Xuereb scored and Leandro Aguirre made no mistake for Marsaxlokk; Pablo Alves had his penalty saved by Sanchez with Nikolai Muscat scoring Marsaxlokk’s third; Mallon Lima scored but Dodo sealed the issue for the Southseasiders.
In the quarter-finals, Marsaxlokk will be facing Tarxien Rainbows or Gzira United.
In another match at the Centenary Stadium, Sliema Wanderers defeated Birkirkara 3-2.
The Stripes took the lead on 13 minutes when off a cross from the left, Sulahmana Bah slotted past goalkeeper Matthew Grech.
Sliema scored the second goal on 35 minutes when off a cross by Steve Pisani from the right, Sulahmana Bah headed home past Grech.
Five minutes from the end of the first half, coach Paul Zammit asked for a FVS review after Luis Cordova handled the ball inside the area – an accident that had went unnoticed by the referee. Ezekiel Barbara eventually ordered a penalty and Murilo Freire converted.
iBirkirkara reduced the gap in the dying minutes with two goals – thanks to Kaiden Fenech who tapped the ball home following an assist from the left on 90 minutes and thanks to a diagonal shot from the left by Kemar Reid on 94 minutes.
The Wanderers will be meeting Zurrieq or Mosta in the next stage.
At the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Zebbug Rangers defeated Attard 7-6 on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
An own goal put Attard ahead on 15 minutes but Darren Falzon equalised six minutes later. The Rangers regained the lead courtesy of Hugo Santos on 70 minutes but Precious Uchechukwu Nwankwo levelled matters one minute in added time to force the penalty shoot-out.
In the penalty shoot-out, Darren Falzon, Gaetano Gesualdi, Michael Oliveira, Lydon Sammut, Jordan Sciberras, Glen Mifsud and Russell Fenech scored for Zebbug and Tejumola Ebenezer Ayorinde, Gordon Saliba, Lydon Cuschieri, Fabian Zammit, Nwankwo Precious Uchechukwu and Nicolai Sammut scored for Attard. The only player who failed to score for Attard was Godwin Adam.
Zebbug will be facing Zabbar St. Patrick or Naxxar Lions in the quarter-finals.