Żejtun Corinthians 3
Mġarr United 0
Żejtun eased their way into the last four as they dominated their match against Mġarr.
The cup holders dictated the run of play and opened the score after 11 minutes through Adrian Carabott from a Charlo Magro free-kick.
The Corinthians then hit the post through Carmel Formosa but on 17 minutes it was 2-0 following an excellent goal by Edward Azzopardi whose piledriver never gave the Mġarr keeper any chance to save.
On resumption, Mġarr came more into the picture. However, striker James Borg wasted a clear opportunity to cut his team’s deficit from a good position.
On 70 minutes Żejtun defender Darren Vella was sent off but Mġarr failed to profit even though they went close to finding the opponents’ net on 75 minutes when a Chris Abela effort came off the woodwork.
However, nine minutes from time Żejtun made sure of their semi-final berth when scoring a third goal on the break through Carabott.
Żejtun: R. Farrugia, E. Azzopardi (K. Abela), J. Cachia, H. Schembri, D. Vella, C. Magro, D. Cosaitis, C. Formosa (A. Mercieca), S. Sciberras, A. Carabott, J. Abela (R. Cauchi).
Mġarr: C. Carbonaro, J. Ebejer, W. Camilleri (I. Cutajar), W. Buttigieg, J. Said, K. Vella (L. Theuma), J. Borg, C. Abela,. M. Muscat (J.P. Zammit), C. Sant, E. Grech.
Referee: Duncan Sultana.
Sta Venera Lightnings 2
Mtarfa 0
Second-half Stefan Farrugia and Dalton Wingfield goals earned Sta Venera a semi-final place at the expense of fellow Division Three outfit Mtarfa who only showed their best football in the first period during which they missed a penalty.
Mtarfa were first to venture forward but Cleavon Mizzi and Darik Abdilla failed to find the opponents’ net.
Sta Venera hit back with a shot by Mark Grech, which was deflected to a corner, and a header by Karl Cilia that was saved by James Borg.
On 34 minutes, Mtarfa were awarded a penalty after a foul on Abdilla by Saints keeper Warren Cuschieri. However, the latter made up for his mistake by keeping out Arvin Micallef’s shot from the spot.
Sta Venera were the better team after the change of ends. In the opening minutes they twice went close through Dylan Mercieca and Josef Taliana and on 58 minutes they took the lead from a penalty scored by Farrugia.
Mtarfa succumbed under the Saints pressure and conceded a second goal nine minutes from time when Wingfield hit home from an Andrew Hili pass.
Mtarfa were unlucky not to pull one back late on as a header by Claude Bonanno was stopped by the upright.
Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, A. Micallef, J. Taliana, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia, K. Cilia, D. Mercieca (K. Vella), A. Hili (R. Bezzina), D. Wingfield, R. Carbonaro, M. Grech (G. Micallef).
Mtarfa: J. Borg, J. Muscat (S. Ferrante), R. Sammut, J. Fenech (J. Azzopardi), D. Camilleri, G. Cumbo, A. Micallef (C. Bonanno), C. Mizzi, D. Abdilla, P. Fenech, W. Grima.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Attard 0
Naxxar Lions 3
Naxxar had Gilbert Camilleri to thank at the end of this match as the deadly goalscorer notched a hat-trick to sustain the Lions’ push for the honours this season.
Camilleri scored his first goal on 23 minutes with a thundering drive that flew past keeper Zarb who did well before half-time to keep his team in the match with saves on efforts from Glenn Magri and Andre Rocha da Silva.
In the early stages of the second half, Attard went close through Darren Galea and Clive Lanzon with Naxxar again denied by Zarb off a Da Silva shot.
On 73 minutes, Naxxar increased their lead with a Camilleri volley and the same player notched his hat-trick a minute later.
Naxxar were also awarded a penalty 13 minutes from time for a Colin Ciantar infringement inside the box but Da Silva’s spot-kick crashed against the bar.
Attard: D. Zarb (L. Attard), S. Calleja, C. Lanzon, A. Agius, D. Gauci, C. Ciantar, D. Galea, D. Traykov, K. Said (B. Sammut), K. Zahra, Y. Grech (J. Saliba).
Naxxar: B. Attard, J. Agius, K. Fenech, A. Farrugia (K. Farrugia), G. Camilleri, M. Del Negro, A. Rocha da Silva, V. Bellia, D. Cauchi, A. Fenech (J. Debono), G. Magri (M. Spiteri Gonzi).
Referee: Sammy Attard.
Rabat Ajax 3
Birzebbuga St Peter’s 0
This was yet another superb performance by a strong Rabat Ajax team who booked their place in the semi-finals after ousting a tame Birżebbuġa side.
Early on, a shot by Joseph Caruana was saved with difficulty by Gabriel Mansueto but the keeper was unable to keep out Basil Emeka Onuta’s shot on seven minutes following a good move by Justin Felice.
Two other attempts by David Azzopardi were saved by Mansueto with Birżebbuġa responding through dangerous efforts by Carlos Camenzuli and Anton Florin.
Rabat regained the initiative after the break and a header by Felice on 59 minutes hit the crossbar. Adam Smeir saw his shot cleared off the line by Neville Galea but on 67 minutes the Magpies doubled their lead through Felice following a good move initiated by Onuta.
Birżebbuġa were unable to stage a reaction and Rabat made sure of the result with another Felice goal on the stroke of time.
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, J. Tonna, J. Caruana, Y. Camilleri, J. Felice, A. Smeir (A. Wingfield), W. Borg, E. Muscat, R. Micallef, D. Azzopardi, B.E. Onuta (C. Schembri).
Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, M. Ellul, N. Galea, M. Pullicino, P. Camilleri (B. Farrugia), A. Florin (D. Grech), F. Peplow, N. Tabone, K. Muscat, M. Borg (R. Celeste), C. Camenzuli.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.