Last-gasp Thomas goal puts Senglea through

Senglea Athletic 3
Għaxaq 2

A goal scored by Timothy Thomas a minute from time earned Senglea a place in the semi-finals.

Donald Gatt put Senglea in front from a free-kick on 28 minutes. Għaxaq came back strongly but were unable to find a way through. Just before the break, Senglea were denied by keeper Jonathan Agius off a lob by Thomas.

Senglea went all-out to score a killer goal after the break but Jovin Abela and Thomas saw their shots saved by Agius. Għaxaq weathered the storm and on the hour drew level thanks to François Galea following a perfect pass by Johan Zammit.

On 74 minutes, Galea headed his team in front from a cross by Matthew Axiaq but six minutes later Senglea were back on level terms thanks to Howard Hughes.

The match seemed heading towards extra-time but on 89 minutes Thomas scored the all-important goal for a 3-2 final scoreline.

Senglea: L. Bugeja, E. Azzopardi, D. Cosaitis, H. Hughes, A. Sciortino, J. Gatt (F. Dingli), D. Gatt, B. Dalli (G. Brincat), T. Thomas, B. Zerafa, J. Abela.

Għaxaq: J. Agius, E. Dimech, C. Xuereb, P.P. Cassar, C. Cristiano, K. Caruana (J. Zammit), B. Barbara, M. Axiaq (L. Falzon), L. Camilleri, F. Galea, K. Gambin.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Għargħur 4
Luqa St Andrew's 1

Għargħur eased their way into the semi-finals after beating Luqa 4-1.

Division Three outfit Luqa took the lead after just two minutes through Malcolm Tirchett who beat keeper Mark Aquilina with a rasping grounder.

Għargħur had shots by Ryan Debattista and Shawn Vella going wide in their reply.

Christian Caruana almost doubled the score for Luqa on 31 minutes but his effort was turned over the bar by Aquilina.

Għargħur scored a deserved equaliser five minutes from the break with a Christopher Vella goal and following a period of sustained pressure after the break Vella put his team in front.

Għargħur continued to push forward and made it 3-1 on 81 minutes when Vella hit home from an angle.

In the closing stages Psaila denied Għargħur off attempts by Chris Vella and Alan Spiteri but in added time he was beaten for the fourth time off a shot by Andre Azzopardi.

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Borg, D. Galea, R. Debattista (C. Muscat), K. Vella Petroni, S. Vella (A. Azzopardi), C. Farrugia, C. Vella, E. Lapira, R. Southward, G. Galea (A. Spiteri).

Luqa: P. Psaila, S. Cauchi, M. Dimech (C. Gatt), C. Penza, C. Caruana (C. Cauchi), B. Borg, A. Psaila, M. Tirchett, O. Cutajar, L. Baldacchino, N. Falzon (M. Said).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.