St Patrick 1
Sannat Lions 2
Sannat Lions became the first Gozitan team to reach the last 16 of the FA Trophy after they struck a dramatic late winner through Sunday Baala to see off St Patrick.
The game began on a low-key note with St Patrick enjoying most of the possession but they rarely troubled the Sannat defence.
Sannat right-back Olahdpo Khyote was giving the Saints a tough time with his surging runs and on 22 minutes he won a corner from which Mark Muscat slotted home from close in.
Three minutes later, the Lions nearly doubled their lead when Baala hit narrowly wide from just inside the box. The Saints responded on 27 minutes when a Lucian Scerri grounder was blocked by Adrian Parnis.
St Patrick were now pushing more men forward and on 34 minutes Alex Ellul tried to chip the ball over the Sannat goalkeeper but his effort ended just wide.
Four minutes later it was Sannat who came close when Qordya was foiled by a good save from Jonathan Grech.
It was St Patrick who started to dictate matters, winning several corners.
However, Sannat almost struck again on 65 minutes when, in a quick counter-attack, Qordya drove the ball just wide from an acute angle after good play by Baala.
Two minutes later Baala should have done better when served by Blader Iath but drove wide from underneath the crossbar.
St Patrick were unlucky not to draw level with 14 minutes to go when Gordon Failla sent a curling cross into the area and the unmarked Keith Muscat’s header smacked against the bar.
Moments later, Muscat was at it again but his low drive was saved by Parnis.
A minute before the end, Failla’s floating free-kick deceived Parnis with the ball finishing in the back of the net.
With extra-time looming, two minutes into stoppage time Baala dribbled past two defenders before hitting a strong drive which had the better of goalkeeper Grech.
St Patrick: J. Grech, A. Lagana, R. Vella, N. Filipov, C. Vella (K. Muscat), R. Ellul, I. Scicluna (S. Dimech), L. Scerri, A. Ellul (G. Failla), A. Guazzo, R. Cassar.
Sannat: A. Parnis, M. Muscat, P. Camilleri, P. Buttigieg, A. Debono, D. Mercieca, S. Baala, E. Qordya, M. Cordina, O. Khyote, B. Iath.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.