Mqabba join St George's, Marsaxlokk in semis

Mqabba 1
Pietà Hotspurs 1

Mqabba took the point they needed to make it through to the semi-finals of the Maltco Lotteries KO competition and join St George's and Marsaxlokk in the last four stage.

After a somewhat dull first 45 minutes, the game improved in the second half with both sides all out for a winner. The first real threat of the game came on 25 minutes when Carl Sammut just missed the target for Pietà when he drove the ball over following an inviting Muhammed El Jadei ball.

Mqabba had a Patrick Borg drive from an acute angle that was superbly saved by goalkeeper Miguel Montfort. On 29 minutes, a good one-two between El Jadei and Sammut finished with the latter hitting badly from close in.

Then, it was Mqabba's turn to show some fire up front but Shawn Magro's shot was cleared with difficulty by defender Bernard Sciberras.

The game was much better in the second half with Mqabba seeing more of the ball and they took a deserved lead on the hour when Vilson Caushi chested the ball down before hitting past Montfort.

On 65 minutes, Pietà were unlucky not to equalise when a Sammut cross found Silvan Ciscaldi whose effort came off a defender. From the loose ball, El Jadei had his shot stopped by goalkeeper Kris Calleja.

But, Pietà levelled matters on 69 minutes when El Jadei sprinted strongly to reach a Quelin Refalo ball before firing into the roof of the net.

Mqabba substitute John Paul Muscat had a grounder stopped by the Pietà keeper and at the other end Calleja did well to deny Refalo whose drive seemed destined to hit the back of the net.

Pietà needed a win to oust Mqabba from the semi-finals. They made a last-ditch effort to reach their objective but the Mqabba rearguard was solid throughout.

Mqabba:
K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, M.A. Psaila, S. Magro, M. Gauci (J.P. Muscat), C. Calleja, O. Grech (M. Catania), V. Caushi, M. Anastasi (G. Barry).

Pietà:
M. Montfort, C. Sammut, C. Spiteri (M. Agius), B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo, S. Ciscaldi, S. Grech, K.M. Robinson, C. Cassar, I. Grech, M. El Jadei.

Referee: Mario Apap.

St George's 3
Balzan Youths 2

St George's came back from two goals down to win this thriller of a match at the Tedesco Stadium.

Again the fine play of Silvio Sciberras, particularly in the last quarter of the match, won the game for the Saints.

Balzan looked cruising as they led 2-0 with little more than 15 minutes to go but then succumbed to the pressure as David Carabott's side tried desperately hard to defend their advantage but to no avail.

It was Balzan who stunned the Saints early on as they forged ahead after only two minutes when Trevor Thomas chipped the ball over Thomas Galea following a Clayton Caruana corner.

St George's reacted immediately, penning Balzan in their own half. But despite seeing more of the ball, Joey Falzon's side were finding it difficult to penetrate a packed defensive Balzan set-up.

St George's were dangerous on 18 minutes when a Sciberras floating ball into the area was nodded down by Anthony Ewurum for Glenn Bonello who drove the ball inches wide from inside the area.

On the half hour, a Chris Ciappara shot was saved by Joshua Galea. A minute later, it was Thomas who could have scored a second but his drive from just inside the area went narrowly wide.

A minute before the break a Caruana drive from outside finished inside the side-netting with the Saints keeper beaten.

Balzan made it 2-0 on 66 minutes. Aaron Agius forced his way through before placing the ball beyond Galea's reach.

Carabott replaced Thomas to bolster his side in midfield but his presence could do nothing to prevent the Saints from scoring on 75 minutes.

A melee inside the Balzan box finished with Rennie Forace flooring Josef Dalli and from the penalty Bonello made it 2-1.

Two minutes later the Saints equalised when Anthony Ewurum headed home a Sciberras corner.

Falzon's men continued to pile up the pressure and two minutes into stoppage time Dalli hit home from close range a Gordon Mallia cross for a dramatic winner.

Balzan: J. Galea, R. Farrugia, S. Aquilina, C. Micallef, R. Forace, L. Gregory, M. Sciortino (G. Tanti), D. Fenech, C. Caruana (A. Agius), P. Anizoba, T. Thomas (D. Carabott).

St George's: T. Galea, A. Bonello, S. Sciberras, E. Sevasta, G. Mallia, B. Fenech (C. Schiavone), C. Ciappara, E. Amaira, N. Caruana (J. Dalli), A. Ewurum, G. Bonello.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.