The BOV GFA Cup took centre stage in Gozo last weekend when the eight teams that reached the quarter-final stage were decided.
The preliminary round featured just one clash between two First Division sides, where Xewkija Tigers defeated Għajnsielem 5-0 to bounce back from two successive defeats.
Although Ghajnsielem held much of the initiative in the first half, they failed to capitalise, allowing Xewkija to dominate in the second half and score five goals.
Claudio Frances opened the score directly from a free-kick in the 47th minute, and Brian Parada doubled the lead with a header on 52 minutes.
Denzil Bugeja extended the advantage on the hour mark before a long-range shot by Stefan Cassar in the 72nd minute made it 4-0.
Frances sealed Xewkija’s victory with a fifth goal on 84 minutes.
In a decisive clash between the top two teams in the second division, Kerċem Ajax asserted their ambitions with a dominant 6-0 victory over St. Lawrence Spurs.
The Ajax, as anticipated, controlled the game for long periods, scoring three goals in each half.
Kaio Lucas put them ahead 28 minutes, with Cesar Velez Da Silva and Andre Azzopardi quickly adding two more goals on 39 and 44 minutes.
Kaio continued his stellar performance, scoring again on 49 minutes.
Substitute Andrew Mizzi made it 5-0 on 65 minutes, with Cesar Velez Da Silva sealing the win on 67 minutes with a precise strike from outside the box.
Kercem Ajax will now face Xewkija in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, the last-placed team in the Gozitan first division, Oratory Youths, secured a 2-0 victory over Division Two side Għarb Rangers.
This was Oratory’s first win of the season, and saw them advance to a quarter-final face-off with Nadur Youngsters.
Oratory took an early lead, with Vitor Gabriel netting after only 13 minutes.
Oratory were unlucky not to kill off the match when they had two efforts coming off the upright.
They finally killed off their opponents on 81 minutes when Rian Almeida Lopes made it 2-0.
Sannat Lions scored a thrilling 4-3 extra-time victory over Munxar Falcons.
Both teams failed to score in the first half, but Sannat took the lead in the 58th minute through Jean Gustavo Da Silva.
Munxar turned the game around with goals from Aroldo Da Silva (66, 71).
Sannat levelled matters on 80 minutes thanks to Eric Gauci and reclaimed the lead with an 87th-minute goal by Aud-Gustine Obaje.
But Munxar kept fighting and forced extra time with another goal from Aroldo Da Silva in stoppage time.
However, the Falcons’ hopes were rattled early in extrat-time when Munxar had a player sent off.
Sannat profited from their numerical advantage to clinch the win with Paul Said grabbing the all-important goal on 119 minutes and set up a clash with holders Qala Saints.
First-division side SK Victoria Wanderers will face Xagħra United in the quarter-finals after a 4-0 win over second-division Żebbug Rovers.
The Wanderers dominated the match with two goals in each half.
Vasile-Fernando Mihai put them ahead on 39 minutes, before Sam Harland made it 2-0 three minutes later.
Mihai struck again a minute before the hour mark.
Żebbuġ had the chance to pull a goal back four minutes later but Andrew Chukwuwinke saw his penalty hitting the crossbar. Mihai wrapped up the Wanderers win when converting a penalty on 69 minutes.
NEXT FIXTURES
PLAYING ON SATURDAY
KERĊEM STADIUM
GFA DIVISION ONE KO QF
Xewkija T. vs Qala Saints 15.00
NOVEMBER 9
BOV GFA Cup QFs
Qala S. vs Sannat Lions 12.45
Xagħra vs SK Victoria W. 15.00
NOVEMBER 10
BOV GFA Cup QFs
Nadur vs Oratory Youths 12.45 Xewkija T. vs Kercem Ajax 1
