Żurrieq 1
Mqabba 2
Division One side Mqabba just managed to scrape through to the fourth round of the FA Trophy after beating arch-rivals Żurrieq 2-1.
Mqabba, roaming in troubled waters in Division One, received a morale boost in a hard-fought derby against Żurrieq, the 1985 FA Trophy winners now playing in Division Two.
Living up to their promise to boost support for their team, the Mqabba fans decorated their section with large banners, flags and balloons.
Żurrieq looked far more willing to attack as they started to dominate Mqabba in midfield but none really created any danger in the opening half-hour, Daniel Zammit forcing the only save from Kris Calleja with a cross-cum-shot.
David Carabott’s side came closest to taking the lead after 35 minutes when Matthew Scicluna’s free-kick ricocheted off the crossbar.
But soon after the break Żurrieq’s hopes were dashed when Mqabba forged ahead courtesy of Spas Petrov Spassov who received from Peter Anizoba.
The two teams went for broke now with Benjamin Adams almost grabbing an equaliser soon after.
Żurrieq pressed on the pedal, Adams being unlucky not to equalise when his glancing header was touched away for a corner by Kris Calleja.
In the 56th minute, Emiliano Lattes’s long-range shot cannoned off the bar.
At the other end, 10 minutes later, Glenn Bonello was prominent with a neat turn and shot that gave the illusion of goal as his volley flashed against the side-netting.
But 15 minutes from time, Mqabba flowed into the Żurrieq box in the best move of the game.
Anizoba produced a mazy run on the right channel and exchanged the ball with Spassov who squared to Abzeb Abiodun Williams. The latter’s dummy deceived the defence as the ball rolled towards Lattes who slotted home.
Yet, the Mqabba fans were forced to endure a nervy finale when Adams rammed the ball past a posse of players to narrow the deficit for Żurrieq.
Żurrieq: J. Alden, K. Sacco, D. Stojanovic, K. Magro, J. Lia, D. Zammit, M. Schembri, M. Cocks (86 T. Borg), S. Azzopardi, G. Bonello, B. Adams.
Mqabba: K. Calleja, A. Scicluna, M. Sciortino, J. Anegbe, A. Caligari, S. Spassov, C. Cutajar, C. Camoin, A. Williams, E. Lattes, P. Anizoba (90 D. Azzopardi).
Referee: Jude Amin Utulu.