Moracci double sends Marsaxlokk through to FA Trophy quarter finals

SANTA LUCIA 0

MARSAXLOKK 2

Moracci 61, 90

SANTA LUCIA

D. Ciappara, Y. Soares Fonesca, S. Rier, N. Pulis, J. Tanti, D. Pacheco Francarolli (71 K. Nwoko), J. Pisani, F. Farias, R. Soares (28 Y. Terzi), A. Alba (62 R. Bairam), R. Hehedosh.

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnajk, A. Attard (81 D. Mifsud), K. Keqi (71 T. Fonesca), P. Xuereb, A. Ferraris, J. Cruz Aguilar, O. Carniello (40 C. Bonanni), L. Aguirre, R. Scicluna, F. Moracci, D. Vukovic.

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards: Alba, Terzi, Scicluna, Ferraris.

Fabian Moracci scored a brace to book Marsaxlokk’s place in the FA Trophy quarter-finals at the expense of Sta Lucia.

Pablo Doffo’s side made light of having to face the same opponents in back-to-back matches as they earned a 2-0 win over the same opponents.

Marsaxlokk made three changes from the side which earned a last-minute win with Santa Lucia in the BOV Premier League.

On his part, Santa Lucia coach Vincenzo Potenza rang the changes following the upset to the Southseasiders with Sebastian Rier and Diego Francorelli back to the starting line-up.

There was plenty of promise to Marsaxlokk’s build-up play but they were let down by the poor touch of their strikers Kristian Keqi and Moracci as moves broke down in the final third.

Sta Lucia seemed to have gradually worked their way into the match only for their rivals to quickly regain control.

Five minutes before half-time, Adrian Ferraris delivered a perfect ball for Keqi but the Italian striker saw his effort blocked by Dylan Ciappara.

Keqi then flashed an angled strike agonisingly wide on 53 minutes as the intensity of the match increased after the break with the southseasiders looking the more likely to score.

And they duly did so just past the hour mark when Moracci hit a low drive behind Ciappara after being set up by Keqi.

Sta Lucia responded when Francisco Farias intercepted a back pass but the ball went skimming across the face of goal. 

The Saints kept pressing for the equaliser and 10 minutes from time, Sebastiaan Rier stooped to hit an acrobatic volley, but his effort was deflected away for a corner.

But another misery day for Sta Lucia was summed up late on when Moracci hit a rasping shot behind Ciappara for a second time.