Premier League sides Mosta and Naxxar through
PLAYED FRIDAY
ŻURRIEQ 1-0 MELLIEĦA
Sulahmana Bah 108
XAGĦRA UNITED 1-5 VICTORIA HOTSPURS
Lucas Farrugia 32 (X); Ferdinando Apap 9; Rondinely Monteiro 18; Kurt Borg 31, 52; Emmanuel Mbong 81 (V)
SIRENS 0-2 QRENDI
Leonardo Andrade 36, Christian Degabriele 55
PLAYED SATURDAY
PIETA’ HOTSPURS 1-5 MARSA
Gabriele Mannino 56 (P); Renan Farias 18, Jake Engerer 52 pen., Joao Vitor Florencio 78, 60; Lydon Micallef 84 (M)
BIRKIRKARA 2-1 BALZAN
Agustin Sandona 36, Alexander Satariano 75 (Birkirkara); Jan Busuttil 66 (Balzan)
NAXXAR LIONS 4-2 MELITA
Ryan Cassar 52 pen., Tara Ndao 74, Maicon 99, Takuma Yamaguchi 105 (N); Matthew Debattista 9, 64 pen. (M)
SLIEMA WANDERERS 8-0 GĦAJNSIELEM
Mohamed Awad 2; Simon Zibo 4, 22; Adam Magri Overend 12; Geoffrey Acheampong 33; Vito Plut 37; Steve Pisani 43; Russell Borg 47
MARSAXLOKK 0-3 MOSTA
Clayton Failla 6, 59; Giancarlo Goncalves 72
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 5-0 SWIEQI UNITED
Talison Barboza 32; Raphael Lopes 49, 84; Kairou Amoustapha 65; Joseph Mbong 77
–
6.25PM FULL-TIME! Mosta beat Marsaxlokk 3-0 and will face Qrendi in the last 16.
This match brings our live blog to conclusion but stay tuned to our website for the match report of every match including Ħamrun’s against Swieqi which the Spartans won 5-0 following late goals from Amoustapha Kairou, Joseph Mbong and Raphael Lopes.
6.24PM GOAL! Ħamrun doubled their lead just after the restart through Raphael Lopes, as they now lead Swieqi 2-0.
6.20PM FULL-TIME! Sliema Wanderers started their cup defense with a comfortable 8-0 win over Għajnsielem.
The Blues will face Marsa in the third round.
6.15PM HALF-TIME! Ħamrun lead Swieqi 1-0 at half-time, as the Spartans are chasing their first cup success since 1992.
6.04PM GOAL! Mosta add a third, wrapping up the win and moving on to the next round.
Giancarlo Goncalves beat Matthew Calleja Cremona with a fierce strike.
6.01PM A look at Mosta’s second goal, once again through a Failla penalty.
5.51PM GOAL! Ħamrun have scored. Jovan Cadenovic sent Talison Barboza whose diagonal shot beat Swieqi’s goalkeeper Jean Claude Debattista, a Ħamrun product.
5.49PM GOAL! Mosta were awarded a penalty when substitute Divan Torres, a winter signing, floored Zachary Brincat.
Failla took charge of the second penalty, finding the net again as the Blues now lead by two goals.
5.47PM Ħamrun, Swieqi are still at 0-0 as we approach the half-hour mark.
The Owls are playing a good game, hardly allowing the Spartans to shoot at goal.
5.44PM GOAL! Goal number eight for Sliema Wanderers. Russell Borg, 18, marks his first club goal.
5.36PM SECOND-HALF! Marsaxlokk and Mosta get underway with the former making some changes including between the sticks with Marko Drobnjak replaced after a shaky first 45 minutes.
5.23PM HALF-TIME! Sliema added a seventh before half-time through Steve Pisani.
5.20PM HALF-TIME! Mosta lead Marsaxlokk with a penalty converted by Failla in the early stages of the match.
5.17PM We have information that Ħamrun vs Swieqi is set to get underway just now.
5.15PM Just before the break, Marsaxlokk came close to to level terms through Yuri Messias whose low drive struck the crossbar.
5.12PM GOAL! Sliema have added two more goals as they are now leading 6-0 after 40 minutes.
Geoffrey Acheampong and Vito Plut scored the goals, their second and seventh this season.
5PM GOAL! Simon Zibo scores his second of the afternoon, Sliema’s fourth as they continue to run rampant past Għajnsielem.
4.48PM FULL TIME! Naxxar Lions have secured a third round berth after a nerve-wrecking 4-2 win over fellow top-flight side Melita.
Vella’s team will now face Żurrieq in the next round.
4.45PM GOAL! Sliema have now scored a third, this time through Adam Magri Overend.
The Blues have surely put the tie to bed, securing qualification to the next round.
4.44PM Here’s Mosta opening goal against Marsaxlokk…
4.38PM GOAL! Failla makes no mistake from the spot, netting his fifth goal of the season.
Marsaxlokk 0-1 Mosta.
4.37PM PENALTY! We have a penalty alert at the Tony Bezzina Stadium as Marko Drobnjak has floored a Mosta penalty, with Clayton Failla set to take charge of the Blues’ kick.
4.36PM GOAL! Sliema have added a second through Simon Zibo. The Blues have already scored twice after four minutes.
Tie over?
4.34PM GOAL! Sliema could not have asked for a better start, finding the net after just two minutes of play from Somalia international Mohamed Awad.
4.33PM GAMES UNDERWAY! Marsaxlokk vs Mosta and Sliema Wanderers vs Għajnsielem have kicked-off.
Ħamrun vs Swieqi will start once Naxxar vs Melita is over at the Centenary Stadium.
4.22PM GOAL! Takuma Yamaguchi has scored Naxxar’s fourth as it seems that the Lions are heading to the next round of the FA Trophy.
4.18PM Here are the four goals shared between Naxxar and Melita during regular time.
4.16PM GOAL! Naxxar Lions have taken the lead for the first time against Melita through Maicon, on his first appearance since returning the club.
Has the Brazilian snatched the winner for the Lions? Keep following us!
4.11PM TEAM NEWS! Sliema Wanderers, holders and record-winners of this competition, enter the fray this afternoon.
Paul Zammit’s side see the return of Josip Bender between the sticks. His only appearance for the club was back in July, during the dismal 7-0 defeat to FC Noah in the UEFA Conference League.
They face Gozitan outfit Għajnsielem who sit fifth in the seven-team top-flight campaign on the sister island.
4.08PM TEAM NEWS! Marsaxlokk and Mosta promises to be an intriguing clash between two top-flight sides that could have their say in this competition, with European football at stake.
Both teams fielded a strong side.
Enzo Potenza’s Marsaxlokk will have Slovakian player Martin Adamec in the starting line-up, having been announced as a new signing earlier this week.
On the other hand, Mosta have no new faces on the field for this clash.
4.06PM “We can take a lot of positives despite this defeat. We want to be a team that is hard to beat and I feel we competed throughout the whole match against Birkirkara. We conceded two goals from set-pieces but we have never been rolled over unlike last Monday.” Those were Willard’s first comments after his first match as Balzan coach, this afternoon.
4.02PM TEAM NEWS! Let’s start from Ħamrun Spartans vs Swieqi, one of the three matches that will start at 4.30pm.
Alessandro Zinnari, coach of the Spartans, has deployed Francisco Filho between the sticks while new signings Jovan Cadenovic and Kairou Amoustapha are also given the nod.
On the other hand, Challenge League side Swieqi have some familiar faces with top-flight football including 2013 Malta FA Player of the Year Paul Fenech.
4PM FULL-TIME! Naxxar Lions and Melita remain locked in a four-goal stalemate as the tie heads to extra-time.
3.59PM “I am pleased with my goal but most importantly was advancing to the next round of the competition,” Birkirkara captain Satariano said in a flash interview.
3.58pm FULL-TIME! Birkirkara managed to control their one-goal lead to beat Balzan and book a third round tie against Fgura United or Attard, who will be in action tomorrow.
3.52PM FULL-TIME! Marsa beat Pietà 5-1 to make it to the third round.
Meanwhile, four minutes have been added to Birkirkara, Balzan tie as the latter are looking to find a late equaliser.
86 minutes on the clock for Naxxar, Melita which is being played at the Centenary Stadium.
3.50PM Balzan made two changes with Triston Caruana and Luka Jankovic leaving the pitch for Marcus Grima and Jake Grech.
3.46PM GOAL! Marsa have wrapped up their win and ensured qualification to the next round with two more goals.
Florencio grabbed his second before Lydon Micallef added Marsa’s fifth as they lead 5-1.
They will now face the winner of the tie between holders Sliema Wanderers and Għajnsielem.
3.44PM GOAL! Plenty of goals to bring you at this minute, with Marsa adding a third against Pietà through Joao Vitor Florencio.
Meanwhile, there has been a couple of goals in a span of 10 minutes between Naxxar and Melita.
Debattista had put Melita from a penalty, the third awarded in this match, before Tara Ndao, Naxxar’s winter signing from Japan, levelled terms.
3.37PM In a situation mirroring the first half, Birkirkara scored immediately following a Balzan substitution.
Captain Satariano beat Ciappara with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the area.
3.36PM Luka Lukovic comes off for Balzan, having sustained an injury, with Tercious Malepe taking his place.
3.34PM Two changes for Birkirkara with Luis Cordova and Paul Mbong leaving the field. Nathan Cross and and Gnamien Yikpe make their way.
3.28PM GOAL! Balzan equalise through Jan Busuttil.
Udoyen Akpan saw his penalty blocked by Giacomo Volpe before Busuttil, whose shot was blocked by Sandona’s hands in the box, beat the Italian goalkeeper from a tight angle.
3.20PM GOAL! Pietà pull one back against Marsa.
Gabriel Mannino scores before the hour mark, his first goal in 11 club appearances this season.
3.18PM GOAL! Naxxar level terms.
After Maicon’s miss from the spot in the first-half, this time it was Ryan Cassar who took charge and made sure to drill the ball into the back of the net.
Naxxar 1-1 Melita after 52 minutes.
3.15PM Naxxar Lions and Melita is underway, with Mizzi’s side making two changes at half-time.
Gareth Barone and Jesus Moriets replaced by Karl Mohnani and Collins Gyamfi.
3.13PM GOAL! Marsa have doubled the lead against Pietà.
Jake Engerer, on his second appearance having joined during this winter transfer window on loan from Balzan, converted from the penalty spot.
3.07PM SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY! Birkirkara vs Balzan and Pietà vs Marsa have restarted.
3.03PM Before half-time, Naxxar missed a penalty as they trail Melita by one goal, courtesy of this Debattista’s free-kick.
2.50PM HALF-TIME! Birkirkara lead Balzan by one goal at the end of the first-half while Marsa continue preserve their one-goal lead against Pietà.
Melita and Naxxar are closing in on half-time as well.
2.38PM GOAL! Just a few minutes ago we told you there has been no goal between Birkirkara and Balzan. Now, that has changed as the Stripes have broke the deadlock through Agustin Sandona.
The Argentine defender met an Alex Alves’ corner to beat goalkeeper Dylan Ciappara to his near post.
Alves’ assist brings his tally to 19 assists in 45 matches as he starts his third spell at the club.
2.37PM Balzan were forced to make a change with winger Benjamin Hili replacing Elvis Kamsoba, who picked up an injury.
2.35PM Melita continue to lead Naxxar 1-0 after 35 minutes. This means the only match without a single goal is between Birkirkara and Balzan.
2.31PM Meanwhile, there has been a goal between Pietà and Marsa, with the latter forging ahead after 18 minutes through Renan Farias.
2.30PM No goals between Birkirkara vs Balzan after 28 minutes, with both teams coming close to take the lead in the early stages of the match.
2.15PM GOAL! Melita take the lead thanks to a direct freekick by Matthew Debattista which beat goalkeeper Andre Fenech.
This Debattista’s fourth goal in 18 matches across all competitions this season.
2.07PM This afternoon’s other all-Premier League affair between is Naxxar vs Melita.
The Lions, coached by George Vella, announced the return of Maicon on Friday and he is quickly deployed from the start as they look to advance to the third round.
The Brazilian player started this 2024/2025 season on the books of Birkirkara, playing 11 matches.
Melita, on their part, are led by Andre Carlos upfront, scorer of 7 goals for Clive Mizzi’s side.
2.05PM A quick reminder about last night’s matches from the FA Trophy second round with Żurrieq, Victoria Hotspurs and Qrendi all progressing.
Żurrieq will now face the winner of Naxxar vs Melita, Victoria Hotspurs will take on Floriana or Xewkija Tigers while Qrendi will cross swords with Marsaxlokk or Mosta.
2PM Birkirkara vs Balzan has kicked-off, together with Pietà vs Marsa and Naxxar Lions vs Melita.
1.57PM On the other hand, Balzan will be playing their first match under the guidance of coach Daryl Willard who was promoted to Head Coach role after the departure of Dave Rogers.
Former Balzan player Bojan Kaljevic, who scored 77 goals in 150 matches for the club, is the new assistant coach.
Read: Willard promoted as Balzan head coach and academy technical director.
Captaining the team is Samir Arab with Serbian duo Luka Jankovic and Luka Lukovic to make their club debut.
1.55PM Let’s take a closer look at the team sheets of Birkirkara vs Balzan, with the Stripes set to don a new green-yellow kit which commemorates the club’s 75th anniversary.
Read: New kit unveiled as part of 75th anniversary celebrations.
Birkirkara’s coach Stefano De Angelis has fielded a strong side, captained by Alexander Satariano. Included in the starting line-up are Alex Alves and Stephane Donovan, their two winter signings.
More about these two arrivals later on.
1.50PM Three matches will kick-off at 2pm, including Birkirkara’s meeting with Balzan. In the other two matches, Naxxar Lions take on Melita while Challenge League sides Pietà Hotspurs and Marsa will rub shoulders against each other.
1.45PM Welcome to the Saturday’s FA Trophy programme, where we will bring you updates from all six matches slated for this afternoon.
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