Birkirkara ease past Fgura United to reach FA Trophy quarter-finals

FGURA UNITED 0

BIRKIRKARA 3

Mbong 7, Makoma 15, Abdelghani 51

FGURA UNITED

Y. Cini, H. Abdelghani, S. Buhagiar (62 A. Xuereb), J. Awori Innocent (74 A. Rahman), M. Brincat (81 R. Formosa), K. Formosa, M. Gambin (62 D. Caruana), M. Gatt, N. Adolphus, M. Tabone, L. Elise (46 T. Akande)

BIRKIRKARA

M. Grech, I. Morello, M. Cordova (27 N. Cross), A. Sandona, P. Mbong A. Satariano, L. Lacunza (60 P. Gaitan), N. Micallef, D. Makoma (74 J. Agius), M. Maia, Y. Gnamien (74 S. Dimech).

Referee: Emanuel Grech.

Yellow card: Formosa.

Birkirkara cruised into the quarter finals of the Meridianbet FA Trophy following a comfortable 3-0 win over Challenge League side Fgura United.

Although the scoreline indicates the gulf that exists between the two sides, in reality this tie was little more than a boring encounter.

Birkirkara coach Stefano De Angelis sprung a surprise by naming his strongest possible line-up, perhaps a signal of his intent to land silverware in his first season at the club.

The Stripes may not have shown their true mettle on Tuesday but qualification was never in doubt once Paul Mbong was allowed to connect with a ball from Alexander Satariano, pouncing on an error by Nagbe Adolphus Marshall to beat Yenz Cini.

Birkirkara immediately put the game beyond their opponents’ reach when Stephane Makoma hit a dipping shot from some 20 metres out to beat Cini again.

The goals failed to lift the tempo though and as the clock weighed down it seemed that Birkirkara were happy to go into the break 2-0 up.

The Stripes were in total control though and unlikely to let a two-goal advantage slip away.

The second half was even more conspicuous with the dearth of goalmouth action.

On 51 minutes, however, Fgura could only watch in frustration as Neil Micallef drifted inside the penalty area, and squared for Maia Maxuell but the ball ricocheted off Haytham Abdelghani as it rolled into the net for the Stripes to establish a comfortable lead.

The closest Fgura came to scoring a consolation goal was at the hour mark, Matteo Gambin hitting a scissor-kick just wide of Matthew Grech’s far post.

De Angelis’s lads could have added further gloss to their victory when Maia saw his shot saved by Cini in two attempts.