Marsascala leave it late to reach next round

Marsaskala 3
Sta Venera Lightnings 1

Two stoppage-time goals put Marsascala through to the fourth round of the cup competition.

The Division Three leaders were worth their win as they looked the more polished side and created more goal-scoring opportunities.

After a period of sustained pressure, Matthew Gauci tapped home a Bjorn Dalli centre for Joseph Cutajar’s seasiders to open the score just before the break.

The Saints, also of Division Three, dictated the run of play in the opening minutes of the second half but Marsaskala should have doubled their lead only for Dalli to blast wide from a good position.

Sta Venera insisted in attack and levelled matters 15 minutes from time, thanks to an Alessandro Pirrone goal.

The tie seemed destined to extra-time but on 92 minutes Gauci headed home from a rebound after Clive Lanzon’s free-kick had crashed against the bar.

Dalli then sealed the issue with a third goal as the Saints were caught napping at the back with most of their men in attack trying to save the match.

Marsaskala : R. Attard, C. Bordieri, M. Bajada (S. Camilleri), M. Milutinovic, R. Cauchi, E. Cauchi, J. Galdes, A. Portelli (J. Gerada), N. Abela (C. Lanzon), M. Gauci, B. Dalli.

Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, K. Cilia, K. Zammit, M. Muscat, R. Borg, A. Hili, A. Pirrone, J. Micallef, G. Micallef, A. Wingfield, J. Alesanco Salcedo (J. Zammit).

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.