MOSTA 1
Okoh 5
SWIEQI UNITED 1
Borg 60
(aet; Mosta win 3-2 on penalties)
MOSTA
A. Vella (I. Akpan 120), C. Ememe, P. Tenebe, D. Bonnici (69 R. Briffa), K. Yamazaki (56 C. Failla), B. Diarra, N. Agius (69 Z. Brincat), T. Farrugia, M. Okoh (91 F. Dore), S. Kingue, J. Vassallo.
SWIEQI UNITED
J. Debattista, J. Rengifo, K. Muscat, S. Elfarsi (73 N. Pisani), F. Temile (91 R. Taliana), J. Scerri (104 J. Camilleri), J. Castano (112 A. Lorefice), M. Micallef, L. De Bortoli (67 D. Abela), J. Borg, K. Xuereb.
Referee Emanuel Grech.
Yellow cards Agius, Elfarsi, Temile, Farrugia, Micallef, Brincat, Pisani.
PENALTY SEQUENCE
Rengifo (S) scores 1-0; Failla (M) scores 1-1; Xuereb (S) scores 2-1; Ememe (M) scores 2-2; Muscat (S) misses 2-2; Ferebory (M) scores 2-3; Borg (S) misses 2-3; Diarra (M) misses 2-3; Taliana (S) misses 2-3.
Goalkeeper Ini Akpan was Mosta’s hero as he saved two penalties to enable his team to reach the FA Trophy quarter-finals at the expense of Swieqi United at the Centenary Stadium.
Despite the difference in division, Swieqi were in no mood to fall back and defend. In fact, just seconds into the match, Johan Castano combined with Jean Borg to put the ball into the area, the Colombian’s final touch being too strong.
However, five minutes into the encounter a free-kick from the left was badly defended by the Swieqi players, with Michael Okoh rising over to head past goalkeeper Jean Claude Debattista.
The Owls replied through Frank Temile whose individual effort landed right into Andreas Vella’s clutches.
Despite their lead, Mosta looked second best as Swieqi searched for an equaliser with half-time approaching.
They went close a minute before the break when a Kieran Xuereb shot from distance dipped just over the upright.
Swieqi returned to the dressing room in frustration after they had a Leonardo De Bortoli ‘goal’ annulled for offside in the final action of the half.
After the break, Christ Ememe went close to putting Mosta further ahead when his run on 52 minutes saw him enter the Swieqi area but goalkeeper Debattista blocked his effort.
Swieqi got their deserved goal on the hour mark when Borg played the ball to Jamie Scerri who repaid the favour by putting in a low cross into the area for Borg to tap into the net.
Swieqi were as close as ever to taking the lead three minutes later when Juan Pablo Rengifo fired in a freekick towards the top corner but Andreas Vella dived to parry away just in time.
Mosta replied with an Ememe rocket which Debattista punched away for a flag kick on 80 minutes.
The two sides could not be separated by the end of the 90 minutes and Mosta could have gone ahead immediately in extra time when substitute Ferebory Dore’s header hit the back of the net but the lead was cancelled for offside.
Swieqi’s Debattista was the team’s hero as the second half of extra time began when his double save from point blank range ensured the match would go to penalties.
Here, Akpan came to the fore to send Mosta into the quarter-finals.
