Gudja United 1
Melita AFC 9

Melita eased their way into the semi-finals of the Quick Keno Division II/III Knock Out after a crushing 9-1 win over Gudja United who had goalkeeper Mark Farrugia sent off midway through the first half.

The Amateurs took the lead on 21 minutes when Kane Micallef profited from an indecision in the Gudja defence to fire the ball home. Five minutes later, Gudja were reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Farrugia was red-carded for a foul on Julian Galea who was through on goal.

Melita increased their lead on 33 minutes when Gregory Degabriele finished off a good move by Matthew Borg I. Five minutes from half-time, Galea made it 3-0 before Degabriele added a fourth goal on 43 minutes.

There was still time for Melita to add a fifth goal just before the break when Micallef tucked the ball home from a Matthew Borg II pass.

After the interval, Matthew Borg II delivered a cross-shot that smacked against the upright but on 52 minutes substitute Simon Galea hit goal number six.

Gudja had long thrown in the towel and Degabriele completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes before Matthew Borg I struck Melita's eighth two minutes later.

Gudja scored a consolation goal on 76 minutes when Elvin Gauci converted a penalty awarded for a handball infringement by George Gribbon.

Nine minutes from time, Melita hit the target for the ninth time with another goal from Matthew Borg I.

Gudja: M. Farrugia, L. Burke, J. Zahra, E. Vella, C. Mangion, E. Gauci, D. Lia, J. Muscat (F. Gerada), J. Schembri, E. Bugeja (T. Bonnici), D. Zammit (R. Debattista).

Melita: M. Sapiano (K. Zahra), M. Borg II, J. Mifsud, G. Gribbon, I. Bilocca, G. Degabriele, M. Martin, A. Caruana Scicluna (R. Schembri), K. Micallef, J. Galea (S. Galea), M. Borg I.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Żebbuġ Rangers 0
Sta Venera Lightnings 1

Sta Venera Lightnings booked a place in the semi-finals after edging past Żebbuġ Rangers in a balanced match.

Żebbuġ played the better football during the first half and after eight minutes, they had a George Saliba 'goal' disallowed for offside. Minutes later, efforts by Errol Cachia and Marlon Vella were saved by Sta Venera goalkeeper John Agius.

The Lightnings went 1-0 up on 25 minutes when Żebbuġ defender Gordon Mallia inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear a Glenn Micallef cross.

Żebbuġ hit back strongly and had a Vella shot cleared off the line by the Sta Venera defence while Omar Rababah's shot was pushed away by Agius.

Seven minutes into the second half, Sta Venera were denied a second goal by Żebbuġ keeper Pace who effected a point-blank save on Nathan Caruana's shot. Micallef then headed just wide from a cross by Mark Grech.

Żebbuġ replied with two attempts by Christian Tabone that were somehow cleared by the Lightnings defence.

In the closing stages, the Sta Venera keeper produced a difficult save to keep out a Keith Farrugia free-kick and then Lawrence Vella's header just missed the target.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, D. Gatt, K. Farrugia, B. Galea, G. Mallia, C. Tabone, M. Vella, E. Cachia, O. Rababah (L. Vella), G. Saliba, R. Attard (R. Bugeja).

Sta Venera: J. Agius, A. Cachia, M. Muscat (C. Abela), D. Calleja, G. Micallef, S. Farrugia, M. Grech (G. Frendo), J. Zammit (A. Hili), A. Ellul, D. Zuccaro, N. Caruana.

Referee: Juergen Spiteri.

Kirkop United 1
Naxxar Lions 3
(after extra-time)

Naxxar Lions became the third team to advance to the KO semi-finals after beating Division Three side Kirkop United in extra-time. Kirkop's chances of upsetting the Lions were hampered by the second-half dismissal of Alan Deidun.

The first half was balanced with Kirkop going close early on through Tyron Bonnici and Albert Busuttil. Naxxar reacted and Andy Bartolo hit just wide from a Mark Deguara cross. Minutes later, the Lions forward headed just over from close in.

Six minutes from the end of the first half, Naxxar's experienced goalkeeper David Vella, formerly of Mellieħa, distinguished himself with a fine save from a Simon Cauchi effort.

Eight minutes into the second half, Naxxar were unlucky when a shot by Deguara hit the upright. On 62 minutes, Kirkop were reduced to ten men when Deidun was sent off for a second yellow card.

Gradually Naxxar increased the pressure. On 65 minutes, Adrian Fenech's header hit the upright and four minutes later Ryan Sammut's shot was touched away by Cardona.

Naxxar forged ahead 19 minutes from time thanks to a low shot from Bartolo. Their joy was shortlived as minutes later Simon Cauchi pounced on a mistake in the Naxxar defence to hammer the ball past Vella.

At the end of the regular 90 minutes, the scores were still level and extra-time was needed. Here, Naxxar quickly regained the initiative and ten minutes into extra time Deguara restored the Lions' lead with a firm shot before they sealed qualification with a third goal scored by Kevin Naudi.

Kirkop: S. Cardona, K. Buhagiar, J. Bellizzi, A. Busuttil, A. Deidun, T. Bonnici, B. Buhagiar, K. Farrugia (J. Callus), S. Cauchi, M. Theuma (M. Farrugia), M. Aquilina (S. Busuttil).

Naxxar: D. Vella, K. Fenech (G. Sant), A. Galea, M. Spiteri Gonzi, J. Sank, A. Fenech, R. Sammut, M. Deguara (M. Coleiro), A. Bartolo, A. Delnegro (K. Naudi), J. Mercieca.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Mġarr United 1
Balzan Youths 4

Division Two leaders Balzan Youths enjoyed an easy 4-1 win over Mġarr United to seal their place in the last four of the KO competition.

Balzan were on top right from the start, taking only five minutes to open the scoring when Aaron Agius' firm drive flew into the Mġarr net.

The score became 2-0 on 11 minutes when Kurt Coleiro finished off a good move by Clayton Caruana. The match was as good as over on 25 minutes when Coleiro, again, rammed the ball home.

Mġarr were clearly struggling but they managed to pull a goal back a minute before the break through Simon Mizzi.

Balzan restored their three-goal cushion five minutes into the second half when Agius headed in a Caruana cross.

Balzan continued to push forward as efforts by Caruana and Clint Micallef just missed the target.

Mġarr: L. Grech, A. Portelli, G. Said, C. Bugeja, W. Camilleri, C. Gauci, M. Muscat, S. Camilleri (K. Vella), J. Micallef (P. Fenech), M. Bugeja, S. Mizzi.

Balzan: B. Bonello (J. Galea), C. Micallef, L. Stivala, C. Sciberras, J. Francica (M. Borg), B. Bondin, I. Zammit, C. Caruana, A. Lagana (R. Farrugia), A. Agius, K. Coleiro.

Referee: Andrea Scriha.