FLORIANA 2
Fernandinho 36
Sasere 90
XEWKIJA TIGERS 0
FLORIANA
Y. Fillion, O. El Hasni, J. Grech (65 Q. Allionida), D. Vella, O. Spiteri, M. Garcia, C. Zammit Lonardelli (65 A. Garzia), G. Gamarra, F. Sasere, A. Kouros, Fernandinho (74 K. Reid).
XEWKIJA TIGERS
N. Kosanin, J. Vella, J.M. Vella, D. Bugeja, Josiah Buttigieg (86’ J. Farrugia), R. Buttigieg (89 Joshua Buttigieg), G. Hili, S. Cassar, C. Frances (90 J. Axiak), B. Parada, E. Santos.
Referee: Daniel Portelli.
Yellow card: B. Parada
Floriana struggled much more than expected to beat Xewkija Tigers 2-0 to set up a clash with another Gozitan side, Victoria Hotspurs, in the Round of 16 of the Meridianbet FA Trophy.
Despite holding the initiative throughout the 90 minutes, the Greens, who had goalkeeper Yann Fillion and Fernandinho making their debut, struggled to penetrate the Xewkija rearguard and when they did, they found goalkeeper Nikola Kosanin in fine form.
Floriana went close after just three minutes when Alexandros Kouros had a powerful drive from outside the area turned into a corner by goalkeeper Kosanin.
Gonzalo Gamarra served Jake Grech from the left and the latter’s diagonal shot ended just wide on 16 minutes.
Franklin Sasere headed wide off a freekick by Fernandinho on 24 minutes and five minutes later, off a cross by Kouros, Sasere’s close range effort was blocked by a defender.
Goalkeeper Kosanin came to Xewkija’s rescue as he turned into a corner a close-range header by Gonzalo Gamarra on 35 minutes.
Hardly a minute later, Floriana managed to take the lead. Fernandinho received an assist from the right and after entering the area, he beat goalkeeper Konsanin with a rising shot.
Xewkija’s immediate reaction consisted of a low Brian Parada effort from the edge of the area which hit the upright and off the rebound, the Argentinian hit the ball off target.
Matias Garcia tested Kosanin with a shot from the edge of the area seven minutes in the second half and on 66 minutes, there was a short clearance off a cross by Garcia and Gamarra had a powerful shot neutralised by the Xewkija custodian.
Stefan Cassar went close for Xewkija on 72 minutes when he received the ball off a short clearance by a defender and chested the ball down before hitting just over the bar. A minute later, Sasere headed wide off a cross by Gamarra.
Nikola Kosanin blocked a first time effort by Sasere following a cross from the left by Gamarra a minute from time.
However, four minutes in added time, the Greens sealed the issue with a second goal.
Aleandro Garzia delivered a cross from the right and Sasere headed the ball home past the Xewkija goalkeeper.
GUDJA UNITED 0
GŻIRA UNITED 5
Mentz 11, 79
Macula 55, 80
Scerri 72
Lucas Macula marked his return with Gżira United with an impressive brace as the Maroons strolled to a 5-0 win over Gudja United.
The Maroons were quickly in control and took just 11 minutes to take the lead through Gabriel Mentz.
After the break Macula took centre stage when first he doubled his team’s lead with a spectacular acrobatic shot on 55 minutes before sealing the win with his third on 80 minutes.
In between, Zachary Scerri and Mentz, his second of the match, added gloss to Gżira United’s win.
LIJA ATHLETIC 0
ŻABBAR SP 5
Oliveira Souza 15, 54, 89
Tavares 65
Barros Santos 73
Żabbar St Patrick breezed into the next round with a routine 5-0 win over Lija Athletic at the Centenary Stadium.
The Premier League side were at their best against the Challenge League side with the lanky David Oliveira Souza standing out with an impressive hat-trick.
The Saints took just 15 minutes to take the lead when Oliveira Souza used all his power to head Żabbar ahead.
Lija tried to respond but Żabbar all but killed off the match with two goals in the space of 11 second half minutes.
Oliveira Souza again used his aerial power to double his team ahead on 54 minutes before Diogo Tavares added a third with a firm volley on 65 minutes.
Żabbar wrapped their win with two late goals scored by Marcelo Barros Santos and Oliveira Souza.
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