Holders St Patrick through after 4-1 win

Melita 1
St Patrick 4

Competition holders St Patrick joined Marsaxlokk, St George's and Mqabba in the semi-finals after easily disposing of Melita at the Tedesco Stadium last night. The Saints made sure of the points and qualification in the first half.

The qualifying phase of the competition will come to a close with the remaining two matches on Saturday. The semi-finals will be played on May 2. St Patrick play St George's and Marsaxlokk clash against Mqabba.

St Patrick, who had Serb striker Daniel Milovanov making his debut, took only eight minutes to find the net when Luke Sciberras scored from 35 metres out.

A Thomas Caruana shot was blocked by Melita's George Gribbon but on 25 minutes the Saints' player slotted home from close in after pouncing on a loose ball.

Melita tried to get back in the game but their hopes were dashed just before half-time when Caruana was sent tumbling inside the Amateurs' box and from the penalty Caruana himself made it 3-0.

The second half was a mere formality. On 69 minutes Alexander Ellul tapped in the Saints' fourth goal and Melita scored a consolation goal right on the 90th minute thanks to a Matthew Borg penalty, awarded for a foul on Luke Micallef.

Melita: K. Zahra, S. Bonnici (M. Attard), G. Gribbon, M. Mamo, M. Mallia, L. Micallef, N. Rizzo, L. Sammut (S. Micallef), J. Galea, I. Bilocca, N. Zammit (M. Borg).

St Patrick: S. Mintoff, D. Gauci, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa (Y. Zerafa), B. Bugeja (D. Milovanovic), R. Mifsud, L. Sciberras, A. Ellul, J. Farrugia, T. Farrugia, T. Caruana (G. Failla).

Referee: Paul Apap.

San Ġwann 0
Mosta 4

Mosta found the going easy against a 10-man San Ġwann team who got hammered to the tune of four goals to nil.

The Saints were left facing an uphill struggle as early as the 13th minute when goalkeeper Justin Spiteri was sent off.

Mosta were aggressive from the start and forged ahead after only six minutes when Lyden Micallef curled the ball home from a tight angle.

Spiteri then committed a foul on Terrence Vella just outside the area and referee Sammy Attard had no other option but to red-card the keeper. From the free-kick Mark Briggs saw his drive hitting the post but Chris Pace was on the mark from the rebound.

San Ġwann tried to regroup and on 25 minutes a Lee Cumbo free-kick sailed just over the bar. But, a minute later Mosta made it 3-0 when Vella was floored by Neil Curmi inside the box. The Mosta striker picked himself up and scored from the spot.

The Saints were unlucky not to pull a goal back when an Alan Borg drive hit the post.

Mosta, however, continued to dictate matters and increased their tally to four right on the hour when the Saints conceded another penalty. Briggs made it 4-0.

Mosta: J. Debono (N. Attard), B. Agius, A. Borg, M. Briggs (P. Vassallo,), K. Farrugia, M. Farrugia, L. Micallef, C. Pace (L. Grima), L. Stivala, J. Vella, T. Vella.

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri, R. Sammut, M. Caruana, N. Curmi (C. Giodemaina), L. Cumbo, A. Borg, C. Gatt (C. Cuschieri), F. Aboulezz, V. Brincat (J. M. Vella), R. Sell, S. Pisani.

Referee: Sammy Attard.