Birzebbuga St. Peter’s, Fgura United, Mosta, Mgarr United, Naxxar Lions, Pieta’ Hotspurs, Zabbar St. Patrick and Zurrieq joined Birkirkara, Floriana, Gzira United, Hamrun Spartans, Hibernians, Swieqi United, Tarxien Rainbows and Valletta in the Round of 16 of the Meridianbet FA Trophy as another eight matches from the Round of 32 were played on Sunday.
Birzebbuga St. Peter’s defeated Balzan on penalties in a match at the Centenary Stadium. Following a goalless ninety minutes, Yusuf Abdullahi Sulaiman put Birzebbuga ahead four minutes in the first half of extra-time but with one minute to go, Oluwatobiloba Dimeji Awosanya levelled matters.
In the penalty shoot-out, Birzebbuga scored five and Balzan three. Paul Lapira, Randall Vella, Daniel Zerafa, Elias Grioli and Sulaiaman scored for Birzebbuga while Awosanya, Dylan Ciappara and Jake Engerer scored for Balzan.
Fgura United defeated Santa Lucia 2-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Adolphus Nagba Marshall put Fgura ahead on 21 minutes and Alan Abdelrahman doubled the score on the half-hour. Santa Lucia pulled one back thanks to an own goal ten minutes from time.
Mosta needed the penalty shoot-out to eliminate Mqabba at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Following a goalless ninety minutes during which both sides had a penalty saved – Prince Chibuzor Emmanuel had a penalty saved by Lydon Moore on 23 minutes and Luka Mijic had a penalty saved by Udoh Akpan on 26 minutes, the game went into extra-time. Ibrahim Sani Halliru put Mosta ahead on 118 minutes but Luka Mijic equalised a minute later.
The penalty shoot-out therefore had to determine the winner with Leo Fernandes, Jake Vassallo, Aiden Agius and Prince Chibuzor Emmanuel scored for Mosta; Saturday Nanapere, Melvin Busuttil and Matthew Borg scored for Mqabba with Luca Bugeja and Jeremy Busuttil missing their attempts.
Goals by Kyle Frendo on 37 minutes and Cristhyan on 63 minutes handed Mgarr United a 2-0 win over Qala Saints at the Gozo Stadium.
At the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Naxxar Lions defeated Marsa 3-0 thanks to Vinicius on 40 minutes and a brace by Joao Victor on 48 and 86 minutes.
Pieta’ Hotspurs found no difficulty in beating Mtarfa 5-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Nicholas Pisani put the Hotspurs ahead on 6 minutes and Arthur Stelmach doubled the score on 44 minutes. Emmanuel Bio increased the lead on 54 minutes before Sami Abo Assaf and Stelmach added another two goals on 87 and 90 minutes.
A goal by Mario Fontanella on 64 minutes handed Zabbar St. Patrick a narrow win over Xewkija Tigers at the Centenary Stadium.
On the other hand, Zurrieq defeated Kercem Ajax 4-0 at the Centenary Stadium thanks to goals by Gabriel Aquilina on 26 minutes, Brite Ihuomah on 53 minutes, Glamour Eziefula Chibeueze on 61 minutes and Jonathan Monney on 80 minutes.