Marsa eyeing revenge on top-six achievers Pietà

On Wednesday, English Division One club Crystal Palace caused a shock when they defeated Anfield giants Liverpool 2-0 to knock them out of the FA Cup.

English football being so popular here, Crystal Palace's giant-killing act should have strengthened the optimism of local Division One clubs of emulating their feat ahead of this weekend's four second round matches from the FA Trophy.

The competition has so far failed to stir much interest mostly due to the fact that the big guns will only enter the frame at the quarter-finals stage. However, Msida's 3-0 victory over Hamrun in the first round showed that surprising results can also occur in our KO competition as well.

The draw for the second round of the FA Trophy has thrown up only one clash between two Premier League teams, Pietà Hotspurs vs Marsa. This encounter at the National Stadium (today at 4 p.m.) is the highlight of the second round as the two clubs harbour ambitions of advancing in this competition.

Pietà and Marsa were both gunning for a place in the top six at the end of the second round of the Premier League but it was the Hotspurs who achieved their declared objective as Marsa, for the second season running, failed in their bid to ensure safety three months in advance.

Their disappointment of missing out on the Championship Pool is likely to act as added motivation for Marsa to progress in the Trophy also in view of the fact that lately, they have shown signs of recovery. Marsa were made to fight hard by St Patrick to book their passage to the second round, winning 3-2.

Marsa beat Mosta 5-0 in their last league outing while Pietà conceded a narrow defeat to Hibs in a match played in adverse weather conditions on Wednesday.

Gareth Sciberras, Jamie Pace and Mauro Di Lello should return to the Hotspurs' starting line-up after missing the 1-0 loss to Hibernians. Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia, the Pietà coach, must cope without flank defender Pierre Aquilina who is plagued by a groin injury.

Marsa coach Godwin Cuschieri has a full squad at his disposal. New signings Clive Mizzi and Michael Cutajar are also expected to be in Cuschieri's 18-man list.

Pietà, who disposed of Lija 4-1 in the first round, enjoy an edge over Marsa in league encounters this season as they won the first round match 1-0 and then drew 2-2.

Marsaxlokk, relieved to have claimed the remaining berth in the top-six pool, will seek to bounce back from their midweek upset to Hamrun Spartans when they face Msida this afternoon at 2.

J.J. Aquilina, the Marsaxlokk coach, will certainly exact a more committed performance from his men against the Division One high-fliers. Msida's shock elimination of Hamrun means that Marsaxlokk, replete with seasoned performers, cannot afford to be complacent if they are to reach the quarter-finals. Carmel Formosa scored Marsaxlokk's two goals in their 2-0 win over Senglea in the previous round.

Floriana, confined to the Relegation Pool after their 2-1 defeat to Valletta, will want to soften that setback by joining the last eight.

On paper, the Greens are favourites to advance at the expense of Division One club Naxxar Lions (tomorrow at 1 p.m.), but then again, nothing can be taken for granted in KO competitions.

Naxxar are in the second round of the FA trophy after a minimal 1-0 win over Xghajra while Floriana hammered Rabat 6-1.

Ziya Yildiz, the Floriana coach hit by a bout of 'flu in the last few days, will be without Sandro Zammit Fava. Matthew Camilleri, Cedric Caruana and Joseph Craig Schembri have also been unwell lately and their condition will be checked on today.

Congolese defender Riad-Mynel Gango-Rtsa is doubtful. Ian Azzopardi, injured in an aerial duel with Valletta's Chris Oretan on Tuesday, is expected to be fit to play.

Tomorrow's first match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium (11 a.m.) pits Premier League strugglers Mosta against Mqabba.

Mosta's bottom place in the Premier League standings says a lot about their trouble in making an impact in the top-flight. They will certainly look at their clash with Mqabba, placed in mid-table in Division One, as an opportunity to end their losing sequence as they seek to lift their flagging optimism before the do-or-die battles in the Relegation Pool.

Mosta beat Gozo 2-1 in the previous round. On their part, Mqabba defied the odds when they trounced promotion candidates Balzan Youths to the tune of 4-0.