Marsa scrape through after penalty marathon

Qormi 3
Marsa 3
(aet; 90 mins: 2-2; Marsa win 9-8 on penalties)

Marsa crawled into the second round of the FA Trophy after edging Qormi in a penalty marathon.

The Premier League side won the penalty shoot-out 9-8 after finishing in a 3-3 draw at the end of extra-time.

Twenty players took a total of 24 penalties with Daniel Zuccaro missing the decisive shot for Qormi after Darren Vella had put Marsa 9-8 ahead.

Qormi's disappointment at the end of the game was more than justified after they had come so close to toppling their Premier League opponents. But, their performance at the Centenary Stadium confirmed their potential to push for promotion to the top flight this season.

The first half was an entertaining affair with the industrious Marsa doing most of the early running.

After two minutes, a fierce drive by Victor Bellia from an angled position was tipped away for a corner by Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi goalkeeper. Eight minutes later, Marsa striker Gilbert Martin made a promising run but he concluded just wide from around 12 metres.

Marsa, who were led by midfielder Essien Mbong yesterday after the resignation of coach Michael Molzahn last week, continued to press forward. In the 16th minute, Martin sprinted past Neil Zarb Cousin but his final effort was saved by the Qormi custodian.

In their first serious attack after 18 minutes, Qormi grabbed the lead against the run of play. Jan Talcevski dribbled his way into the Marsa box before crossing for Kurt Zammit who fired home.

Qormi's joy was shortlived as only a minute later, a Brandon Zammit free-kick fell to the unmarked Vella who drove home.

Midway through the first half, a Warren Chircop lob for Marsa was saved by Farrugia. Marsa continued to attack and in the 27th minute, a Martin cross-shot was blocked by the Qormi custodian. On the half hour, it was Qormi's turn to put Marsa under pressure. Talcevski did the spadework but Glenn Buhagiar's shot finished over.

Ten minutes from the end of the first half, Martin again forced a fine save from the Qormi keeper and at the other end, Zarb Cousin brought the best out of Marsa goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.

The pace of the game dropped slightly at the start of the second half but Marsa had three excellent chances to move ahead.

After substitute Anthony Ewurun had mishit the ball from close range, Shaun Cutajar just missed the target and, in the 56th minute, a Nicky Fasanelli drive ended just wide.

Not for the first time in the game, Marsa's failure to translate their supremacy into goals was punished by Qormi who reclaimed the lead in the 61st minute. From an Edward Azzopardi corner, Buhagiar jumped well to head the ball home. Marsa might have equalised immediately but Martin's header was well saved by Farrugia.

Ten minutes from time, Qormi could have made the game safe when Joseph Farrugia's measured pass found Carmel Formosa who came face-to-face with Debono. The Marsa goalkeeper subdued the danger by throwing himself at the feet of the Qormi striker.

Former Qormi forward Andrew Scerri, who came on for Kevin Scerri, could have equalised for Marsa on 84 minutes but his drive was deflected for a corner by a Qormi defender. Marsa's equaliser came shortly afterwards when Scerri supplied the advancing Ewurun who slotted the ball home.

Extra-time was needed and for the third time in the game, it was Qormi who took the lead. Four minutes of the additional 30 had passed when Farrugia's free-kick produced a firm header from Michael Borg Olivier.

Marsa's response was instant. Four minutes from the end of the first half of extra-time, Talcevski fouled Bellia in the area and from the resulting penalty, Bulgarian defender Emil Yantchev rifled the ball home.

Five minutes before the end of extra-time, Qormi missed a glorious chance to claim victory when, after some good work by Borg Olivier, Formosa hammered wide.

A minute later Marsa's Scerri was denied by another fine save from the Qormi goalkeeper. In the dying moments, Marsa had midfielder Nicky Fasanelli sent off for a second yellow card.

Marsa: J. Debono, G. Bencini, D. Vella, K. Scerri ('78 A. Scerri), E. Mbong, E. Yantchev, B. Zammit ('38 Cutajar), N. Fasanelli, V. Bellia, G. Martin, W. Chircop ('45 A. Ewurun).

Qormi: M. Farrugia, N. Zarb Cousin ('105 D. Zuccaro), A. Formosa ('107 M. Tabone), J. Scicluna, E. Azzopardi, K. Zammit, J. Talcevski, G. Buhagiar, C. Formosa, J. Chetcuti ('74 M. Borg Olivier), J. Farrugia.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorers: K. Zammit 18; Vella 19; Buhagiar 61; Ewurun 85; Borg Olivier 94; Yantchev 101 pen.

Yellow Cards: Mbong; Scicluna; Fasanelli.

Red Card: Fasanelli 119.

Penalty shoot-out sequence

Yantchev (M) scored 1-0; Farrugia (Q) saved 1-0; Bellia (M) missed 1-0; Talcevski (Q) scored 1-1; Martin (M) saved 1-1; Borg Olivier (Q) scored 2-1; Vella (M) scored 2-2; Zuccaro (Q) scored 3-2; Bencini (M) scored 3-3; Azzopardi (Q) saved 3-3; Mbong (M) scored 4-3; Buhagiar (Q) scored 4-4; Scerri (M) saved 4-4; Zammit (Q) missed 4-4; Ewurun (M) scored 5-4; Tabone (Q) scored 5-5; Cutajar (M) scored 6-5; Formosa (Q) scored 6-6; Debono (M) scored 7-6; Farrugia (Q) scored 7-7; Yantchev (M) scored 8-7; Buhagiar (Q) scored 8-8; Vella (M) scored 9-8; Zuccaro (Q) missed 9-8.