Spartans look for cup reprieve against Tarxien

The quarter-final line-up of this season’s U*Bet FA Trophy will be finalised this evening when the four second round matches are played at the Centenary Stadium and the Hibs Stadium.

Six Premier League sides and two from Division One will be looking to join seeded teams Valletta, Birkirkara, Qormi and Sliema Wanderers in the quarter-finals.

Much of the attention of the fans will be on the two ties featuring Premier League sides with Tarxien facing Ħamrun and Marsaxlokk playing Vittoriosa Stars.

Tarxien and Ħamrun will be looking to lift their morale after both lost in their last league outings. The Rainbows slipped to a 2-0 defeat to leaders Valletta and Ħamrun went down 4-2 to Hibs.

The two sides enjoyed a comfortable passage to the second round as the Spartans trounced Melita 5-0 while the Rainbows eased past Balzan Youths 3-1.

The past two weeks have been anything but easy for Ħamrun. Back-to-back defeats to Floriana and Hibs have dented the team’s hopes of claiming a top-six berth.

Coach Steve D’Amato is hopeful that his players will turn in a strong performance to surpass “a very difficult hurdle”.

“The match against Tarxien will be very difficult,” D’Amato said.

“We are passing through a difficult spell but the players are working very hard to try and put things right. A win over a strong team like Tarxien would boost our confidence.”

Czech defender Martin Hrubsa has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate injury. The Spartans are giving a trial to a Serbian defender, Dragan Milovic.

Brothers Ryan Fenech and Roderick Fenech are struggling with knocks but, on a more positive note, striker Dylan Kokavessis is set to make his debut after rejoining the Reds on loan from Marsaxlokk until the end of the season.

For Tarxien, tonight’s match against Ħamrun comes just three days after their 2-0 defeat to Valletta and coach Noel Coleiro is concerned that tiredness might affect his team’s performance.

“It’s not ideal to play such an important match just a couple of days after another tough game,” Coleiro said. “However, the players are determined to go far in the KO and I’m confident that the team will produce a bold performance.”

Coleiro is buoyed by the return of Brazilian Sergio who has rejoined the squad after a long visit to his home country.

Marsaxlokk and Vittoriosa experienced contrasting fortunes last weekend. While the southerners had a 2-0 win over champions Birkirkara, Vittoriosa’s poor run continued with a 6-1 rout to Floriana.

Marsaxlokk, who edged Mqabba 1-0 in the first round, are almost at full strength with Carlo Mamo the only absentee due to a knee injury.

Vittoriosa, 4-2 winners over Victoria Hotspurs in the first round, will be boosted by the return from suspension of Brazilian Edison, Jeffrey Chetcuti and Stephen Wellman.

Floriana are firm favourites to progress to the quarter-finals when they face Mosta. The Greens dismissed Lija 3-0 in the first round.

Oliver Spiteri’s promotion hopefuls will be relishing the chance to test themselves against one of the leading teams in the top flight. Mosta beat Dingli Swallows 5-3 after extra-time in the opening round.

Thomas Paris is expected to be included in Floriana’s squad after completing his loan switch from Birkirkara yesterday.

Hibs will also be confident of reaching the last eight when they entertain Division One side St Andrew’s who accounted for St George’s in the previous round.

The Paolites, who strolled into the second round with a 4-0 win over Pietà, finally ended their winning drought by beating Ħamrun last week.

Coach Mark Miller can no longer count on Zoran Levnaic who is joining a club in Kuwait. Hibs are set to offer a contract to Nigerian midfielder Patrick Osei who played for Brescia at youth level.

St Andrew’s have been active in the transfer market this week. They have signed Morgan Onourah, who started the season with Senglea, and are also set to register an Italian goalkeeper. Defender Ron Hartvig is doubtful with a thigh injury.

Programme
Hibs Stadium: 6 p.m. Hibs vs St Andrew’s; 8 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Vittoriosa Stars. Centenary Stadium: 6 p.m. Floriana vs Mosta; 8 p.m. Ħamrun vs Tarxien.