Marsaxlokk 0
Birkirkara 0
(Marsaxlokk win 5-3 on pens)
Glenn Zammit was Marsaxlokk's hero yesterday after the young goalkeeper saved a decisive penalty against Birkirkara in a shoot-out to book his side a place in the fourth round of the National League 100 Anniversary Cup.
Zammit first kept his side in the game with a string of smart saves to deny the Stripes' striking force and then, he guessed right to block Branko Nisevic's attempt albeit with the aid of the post.
Marsaxlokk's penalty-takers - Martin Deanov, Carlo Mamo, Roderick Bajada and Peter Pullicino all scored with their efforts but it was left to the former Birkirkara defender William Camenzuli to fire home the killer penalty and in turn end early Birkirkara's dreams of winning this one-off competition.
Marsaxlokk began the game with the typical gusto which was needed against a Premier League side. The Southseasiders more than matched Birkirkara in the first half with Maksims Danilovs going close twice. But Birkirkara were totally dominant in the second period.
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit sprung a surprise before kick-off by naming his strongest possible line-up, perhaps a signal of his intent to land silverware this season.
On their part, Marsaxlokk, who were demoted to Division One for match-fixing, still boast a competitive squad having the likes of Carlo Mamo, Peter Pullicino, Martin Deanov and Roderick Bajada in their ranks.
Marsaxlokk strung together some impressive moves in the opening exchanges with Danilovs a constant threat to the Birkirkara defence.
Twice the Latvian striker found himself one-on-one with Jorge Mora and on both occasions the Spanish keeper came out on top.
Danilovs first headed just wide and on 17 minutes he was well found by Carlo Mamo but his shot was well blocked by Mora.
Not that Birkirkara were overawed with Shaun Bajada going close to break the stalemate just before the break, when his free-kick from 20 metres sailed just over the bar.
The pattern continued in the second half, with Birkirkara pushing and probing but lacking quality in the final third while Marsaxlokk occasionally threatening on the break.
That was until Trevor Cilia's intervention when he powered an angled shot into the side-netting on 56 minutes.
This prompted Birkirkara's best spell and Michael Galea should have done better with a close-range shot from Comvalius's cross.
Marsaxlokk's young defender Jean Claude Vella was given a torrid time by the Dutch striker on the left flank and was taken off after 66 minutes.
A Florent Raimy error then let in George Mallia, only for the Birkirkara midfielder to be denied by Mamo who cleared off the line.
On 66 minutes, Galea brought a smart low save out of Zammit and then fired wide from a good position.
The Birkirkara striker then turned provider, nodding the ball towards Paul Fenech who was thwarted by the Marsaxlokk keeper after 77 minutes.
But as the minutes ticked away, the scarce crowd at the Centenary Stadium knew the outcome would be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Deanov put Marsaxlokk ahead with the first kick and Birkirkara's players duly replied each and every time until Nisevic saw his effort pushed away by Zammit before Camenzuli sealed the southerners win when netting his team's fifth and final penalty.
Marsaxlokk
G. Zammit, W. Camenzuli, C. Mamo, E. Yanchev, C. Brincat ('33 J.C. Vella, '66 G. Caruana), T. Templeman, P. Pullicino, F. Raimy, R. Bajada, M. Deanov, M. Danilovs.
Birkirkara
J. Mora ('90 O. Borg), N. Vukanac, B. Nisevic, J. Zerafa , P. Fenech, T. Cilia, S. Bajada ('89 A. Tabone), S. Comvalius, G. Mallia, M. Galea, A. Buhagiar ('87 T. Paris).
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Zerafa, R. Bajada, Raimy, J.C. Vella.
Penalty sequence: Deanov (M) scores 1-0; Comvalius (B) scores 1-1; Mamo (M) scores 2-1; Galea (B) scores 2-2; R. Bajada (M) scores 3-2; Tabone (B) scores 3-3; Pullicino (M) scores 4-3; Nisevic (B) missed 4-3; Camenzuli (M) scores 5-3.
Other result
Naxxar Lions 3
D. Falzon 18, 78; G. Camilleri 83
Żejtun Corinthians 2
K. Abela 45; C. Formosa 89
Referee: A. Sciriha.
Red card: J. Cachia (Ż) 82.