Valletta cruise past Tarxien Rainbows into FA Trophy quarterfinals

TARXIEN R.      1        

Nanapere 51’

VALLETTA        5         

David 5, 62; Sala 27; Curjuric 70; Tulimieri 84.

Young forward Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel David notched a brace as Valletta booked a spot in the quarter-finals of the Izibet FA Trophy thanks to a 5-1 win over Challenge League side Tarxien Rainbows.

The Citizens dominated during the first half, taking a two-goal lead and although Tarxien pulled one back early in the second half, Valletta were quick to regain a comfortable lead, scoring another three goals.

It took Valletta just five minutes to take the lead when a Mario Fontanella effort was blocked by the goalkeeper and Promise Oluwatobi David headed home off the rebound.

On 27 minutes, Caio Prado, served by David had a close-range effort blocked into a corner, and from the resulting corner by Ivan Curjuric, Eslit Sala headed home past Bartolo.

Tarxien reduced the gap six minutes in the second half. Saturday Nanapere advanced from midfield and with a fine shot from outside the area, he gave Yenz Cini no chance.

On the hour, Triston Caruana was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a shot from outside the area. However, two minutes later, Valletta made it 3-1, Lucas Campos entered the area and served Promise Oluwatobi David to hit home past the Tarxien goalkeeper.

Eight minutes later, Ivan Curjuric, served by Campos on the right, scored a fourth goal for Valletta with a diagonal shot which saw the ball hit the upright before ending at the back of the net.

Six minutes from time, the Citizens made it 5-1 thanks to a fine effort by substitute Kevin Tulimieri from inside the area when served by Haris Dilaver.

TARXIEN RAINBOWS B. Bartolo, C. Conceicao (72’ T. Peixoto), D. Borg, D. Abela, D. Falzon, B. Muscat, B. Farrugia (46’ W. De Oliveira), S. Nanapere, M. Tabone, R. Cauchi (46’ K. Cutajar), K. Attard.

VALLETTA Y. Cini, J. Borg (59’ M. Sansone), T. Caruana, C. Gauci, E. Pena Beltre, P. David, I. Curjuric (71’ K. Tulimieri), E. Sala, C. Prado (59’ A. Zammit), M. Fontanella (78’ H. Dilaver), L. Campos (72’ R. Muscat).

Referee Emanuel Grech