Nadur Youngsters inflicted a heavy 3-0 defeat on holders Xewkija Tigers to book their place in the semi-finals of the GFA Cup, the second most important competition in Gozitan football.
Nadur, who had Claudio Antunes and Charles Hili missing due to suspension, opened the scoring after just two minutes with a Josef Buttigieg goal.
As Xewkija produced a reaction, Nadur keeper Mark Grima was called to make fine saves from efforts by Rodney Buttigieg and Dene Shields. On another occasion, a Kyril Dyakov inswinger from a corner hit the post.
Nadur came close to doubling their lead on 33 minutes when Anthony Portelli’s shot was stopped by the bar.
The Youngsters took command on resumption, adding two more goals to make sure of qualification. Portelli made it 2-0 on 68 minutes and Milos Stojanovic sealed victory with a third goal eight minutes from time after collecting a pass from Charles Mercieca.
In another quarter-final between two top-flight sides, league leaders Kerċem Ajax made it through to the last four following a hard-earned 2-0 win over Victoria Hotspurs.
Kerċem took the lead 16 minutes from time when Sabri Rais headed home from a free-kick by substitute Ian Xuereb. The Hotspurs were demoralised and failed to react with the Ajax making sure of victory with a second goal in stoppage time through substitute Andrew Mizzi.
Xagħra United will meet Nadur in the first semi-final which will be played next year after the end of the league championship.
In the last eight, the Blues crushed Għarb Rangers.
Xagħra struck three times in each half with a brace from Kengo Takashima (2, 3) and the other goals coming from Joseph Vella (29), an own goal by Joseph Muscat (58), a Joseph John Rapa penalty (70) and Mark Buhagiar (90).
The other semi-final will pit Sannat Lions against Kerċem.
Sannat reached the last four after beating Division Two leaders Oratory Youths 4-1.
Almost all goals in this match were scored during the first half.
In fact, the Lions took a three-goal lead through Manwel Cordina (10, 22) and Ernest Qordja (29).
Oratory pulled one back through Shaun Attard (31) but Sunday Baala re-established Sannat’s three-goal advantage from a penalty late on.