Eight teams gunning to join elite quartet in quarter-finals

Eight teams will be gunning to join top seeds Hibs, Sliema Wanderers, the holders, Valletta and Birkirkara, in the quarter-finals of the U*Bet FA Trophy when the four second-round matches are played this weekend.

After the first phase of the BOV Premier League concluded last weekend, the focus has switched to cup football as this weekend's matches were preceded on Thursday by the draw for the semi-finals of the National League 100 Anniversary Cup.

Floriana and Tarxien Rainbows, two teams that could face up in the final of the Anniversary Cup if they emerge victorious from their last-four duels, go head-to-head in the only all-Premier League clash of the FA Trophy second round tomorrow at the Hibs Stadium (kick-off 4 p.m.).

Both teams go into this match high on confidence.

Despite their injury troubles, Floriana pulled off two important wins in their last outings as they followed their penalty shoot-out victory over Ħamrun Spartans in the Anniversary Cup with a 4-2 defeat of Msida St Joseph in the league.

Tarxien were disappointed to surrender a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw with Ħamrun in midweek but, on the bright side, the Rainbows did well to hang on for a point after playing the last 30 minutes with 10 men. The feelgood factor in Tarxien's camp is still high after the team allayed their relegation fears by claiming a deserved place in the Championship Pool.

Tarxien coach Noel Coleiro has now set his sights on progress to the last eight of the FA Trophy.

"This match is like a final for us," Coleiro told The Times.

"I believe that, on paper, Tarxien and Floriana are more or less on a par, so it's going to be a difficult tie for both teams.

"It's crucial that the players give their 100 per cent. If we get to the quarter-finals and the luck of the draw favours us, our chances of advancing would increase.

"Let's not forget that this competition offers a route to European football and although we are not looking too far ahead, we must be positive about our chances of extending our run in the Trophy."

Andrew Decesare is ruled out by suspension while striker Warren Chircop, who has not figured much for Tarxien this season, is still sidelined with a knee problem. The Rainbows eased into the second round after routing Mosta 5-1.

Floriana cruised into the second round after a 4-0 win over San Ġwann but the Greens have had many changes since that November 1 stroll.

Zoran Popovic has taken over from Roddy Collins as coach and Nigerian forward Sunday Akanni-Wasiu, scorer of a brace against San Ġwann, followed the Irishman to Cork City.

These departures inevitably had an unsettling effect on Floriana but recent performances suggest that Popovic and his charges are slowly, but surely, putting their recent difficulties behind them. However, a growing injury list is making life difficult for Popovic.

For tomorrow's clash with Tarxien, he can bank on Argentine midfielder Pablo Doffo, suspended for the Msida game, while wing-back Clifton Ciantar has a 50-50 chance of making his return from injury.

Owen Bugeja, Marlon Briffa, Luke Agius, Sunday Eboh and Christian Cassar are still sidelined with injuries.

"This will be another tough test not only because it's a KO tie but because we're facing a strong team in Tarxien," Popovic said.

"They have prepared themselves well for this season and they are now reaping the rewards of their hard work. That said, I believe that this match can go either way. In football, every game starts with 11 vs 11.

"The good results we obtained in our last two matches have raised our morale. We went through a bumpy period but the players and I have had many frank discussions in recent weeks and the dressing-room atmosphere is much better now."

The Greens and the Rainbows have already met on two occasions this season. The first league match ended 1-1 but Tarxien beat Floriana 2-1 in the second round.

Marsaxlokk vs Ħamrun

Floriana vs Tarxien aside, the other three second-round matches are between Premier League and Division One teams but this afternoon's opening game between Marsaxlokk and Ħamrun is a showdown between two sides with a top-flight pedigree.

Suffice to say that Marsaxlokk began the season as a Premier League team before their demotion for non-sporting reasons paved the way for Ħamrun's reinstatement in the top flight.

Premier League football is Marsaxlokk's foremost priority but the Blues will surely view their meeting with the Spartans as an opportunity to issue a reminder of the qualities that made them one of the most feared teams in the upper echelon.

The same goes for the Spartans who are keen to survive in the FA Trophy and gain a psychological tonic ahead of their Relegation Pool battles.

"Our aim is to advance as far as we can in the FA Trophy," Patrick Curmi, the Marsaxlokk coach, said.

"It will not be an easy task because Ħamrun are no easy opponents. Just because they will play in the Relegation Pool this season doesn't make them less of a threat because they have potential and their attacking players can be very dangerous.

"As far as we're concerned, I believe that we can give Ħamrun a stern challenge. Although our team is equipped to compete in the Premier League, the fact that we have now played nine games in Division One may prove detrimental to our chances in the Trophy because the level we're playing in is not as good as that of the Premier.

"Thus, to stand a chance of going through and secure a psychological boost for the remainder of our league campaign, we must step up our game."

Marsaxlokk midfielder Gareth Sciberras is recovering from hernia surgery and wing-back Andrew Spiteri, who has just completed his rehab from a cruciate operation, is out with a hamstring problem.

Ħamrun coach Steve D'Amato also has his fair share of selection problems as Jonathan Holland, Timothy Fleri Soler, Mark Anthony Bonnici and Diego Armando Cucciardi are out of the equation.

On the plus side, Brazilian forward Marcelo Pereira is in line to return after suspension forced him out of the two-all draw with Tarxien. Mead Mifsud is also available.

D'Amato is wary of Marsaxlokk's threat but he's backing his team to upstage the Blues.

"I consider Marsaxlokk as a Premier League side because they have a very strong squad with three foreign players plus Martin Deanov," D'Amato said.

"I've watched Marsaxlokk several times this season and they play good football.

"Our objective is to reach the next stage of the FA Trophy. They say winning breeds confidence and I agree. We are without a win in the last four matches but the mood in our squad is upbeat after we came back from 2-0 down to draw with Tarxien last Tuesday.

"The players look determined to show their true mettle, knowing also that a win over Marsaxlokk would enhance morale ahead of the league match against Floriana in two weeks' time."

Ħamrun beat St George's 3-0 in the previous round while Marsaxlokk needed extra-time to dismiss the challenge of Pietà Hotspurs, 2-0 the final score.

Other matches

St Patrick vs Qormi (today at 4 p.m., National Stadium)

Qormi start favourites to move into the quarter-finals at the expense of St Patrick but Mosta's astonishing win over Sliema in the Anniversary Cup last Wednesday was a timely reminder that cup matches are anything but straightforward affairs.

Jesmond Zerafa, the Qormi coach, will doubtless urge his players to make amends for their wretched showing in the 2-0 defeat to Birkirkara last weekend.

All the Qormi players are available for selection but Zerafa is likely to make a few changes from the team that started the Birkirkara defeat.

Brazilian striker Camilo, who scored a hat-trick in Qormi's 3-0 defeat of Mqabba in the first round, is widely expected to start today.

St Patrick have endured a difficult start to the season. They definitely need to play to the maximum of their abilities to upset Qormi but Mosta's giant-killing act in midweek will have bolstered their optimism.

Coach Alfred Attard must make do without Simon Zerafa after the flank player was sent off in St Patrick's 2-1 win over Gozitan side Sannat Lions in the first round.

Balzan Youths vs Dingli Swallows (tomorrow at 2 p.m., Hibs Stadium)

Balzan will be looking to claim their second Premier League scalp when they face Dingli Swallows.

The Division One high-fliers caused a surprise in the previous round when they stormed to a 5-0 win over Msida St Joseph.

Dingli crawled into the second round after edging out Vittoriosa Stars on penalties. Given their travails in the Premier League, the Swallows will look at this match as a golden chance to gain their first win in three-and-half months.

Brazilian midfielder Andre Rocha Da Silva is unlikely to start after picking up an injury in the 6-0 defeat to Valletta. Renato Conceicao is doubtful after twisting his ankle during training.

Balzan player-coach Ivan Zammit can virtually bank on a full squad.

Silvan Ciscaldi is out for several months after damaging his cruciate ligaments on his Balzan debut last month.