ROUND OF 32
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 4-0 SENGLEA ATHLETIC
A. Coric 41, S. Smajlagic 45, R. Camenzuli 57, N. Koffi 90
Ħamrun: F. Celio; N. Micallef (46 R. Camenzuli), S. Xerri, D. Letherby, M. Garcia, J. Mbong, S. Smajlagic (60 N. Koffi), S. Camilleri (67 S. Attard), A. Coric (46 J. Cadjenovic), O. Bjelicic (46 M. El Fanis), E. Marcelina.
Senglea: S. Mintoff (20 J. Tonna); C. Buttigieg (46 W. Azzopardi), J. Willy, S. Meilak, J. Stensen, R. Demicoli, O. Ohalewe, K. Bonello (71 T. Thomas), K. Azzopardi (60 N. Spiteri), L. Schembri (71 T. Hili), N. Scerri.
FLORIANA 2-1 BIRŻEBBUĠA ST. PETER’S
O. Spiteri 7. M. Veselji 66 (F); D. Souza 36 (B)
Floriana: P. Alvaro; L. Lopez, A. Arok Arok (46 C. M’Mombwa), Z. Scerri, D. Vella, O. Spiteri, N. Cassar (46 J. Grech), G. Gamarra (65 F. Varela), M. Veselji, A. Garzia, R. Areias (81 M. Jah).
Birżebbuġa: J. Pisani; J. Bolanos, M. Azzopardi (72 R. Cassar), J. Reno Vella (61 D. Zerafa), H. Vella Genovese, C. Baker (72 P. Lapira), M. Xuereb (56 J. Walker), Y. Sulaiman, A. Bruno, D. Micallef (56 L. Agius), D. Souza.
HIBERNIANS 4-0 KIRKOP UNITED
A. Attard 8, Miullen 20, Cleiton 24, L. Caruana 69
Hibernians: H. Sacco; P. Silva, D.Vella (46 L. Caruana), A. Attard, Miullen, D. Xuereb, A. Zammit, L. Abela (46 D. Bonnici), Mailson (70 L. Buhagiar), Cleiton (75 D. Muscat), J. Teixeira (46 A. Silas).
Kirkop United: M. Falzon; L. Theuma (66 D. Trakosopoulos), M. Tabone (56 A. Attard), J. Oghenekewaro, M. Zammit (66 C. Saliba), I. Schembri, J. Mizzi, A. Tabone, D. Vella Gerada, N. Lilomba (46 J. Cassar), C. Farrugia (75 G. Bellia).
NAXXAR LIONS 5-1 SANTA LUCIA
E. Bolanos 6, 45; Rosiel 15; A. Firmino 42, 68 (N); J. Goncalves 70 (S).
Naxxar: M. Debono (46 A. Vella); T. Kruger (69 F. Bugeja), G. Goncalves (73 J. Borg), M. Fenech, N. Pace Cocks, A. Firmino, C. Gauci, E. Angulo, Rosiel, M. Micallef (46 K. Haber), O. Portelli (46 D. Agius).
Sta Lucia: M. Montfort; A. Friggieri (73 M. Micallef), J. Goncalves (72 F. Petkovski), J. Nitcholl, M. Vella, J. Abela, J. Valletta (46 M. Takahara), A. Borg, B. Hannan (46 S. Gatt), S. Diacono, B. Agius.
MĠARR UNITED 2-2 SWIEQI UNITED (8-7 AFTER PENALTIES)
C. Souza 83, 94 (M); E. Asante 14, K. Leonardi 45 (S)
Mġarr: M. Chetcuti; I. Farrugia, D. Sant, S. Schembri, R. Cruz (67 T. Vella), W. Igiebor, J. Bajada (46 J. Zammit), S. Christian (46 M. Attard), J. Debono, S. Agius (46 C. Noto), M. Mifsud.
Swieqi: K. Ellul Ruggier; J. Mallia (75 D. Agius), S. Pinto, K. Leonardi (68 M. Micallef), I. Davey (68 P. Fenech), J. Tanti, E. Asante, L. Okeke, S. Okoh, M. Debattista (68 D. Agius), S. Mawuena.
ŻURRIEQ 2-0 VITTORIOSA STARS
J. Monney 82, B. Schneider 84
Żurrieq: G. Borg; C. Eziefula, H. Xuereb, J. Sarraude, S. Grech, A. Barros, J. Monney, B. Schneider (87 Z. Scicluna), J. Zerafa (87S. Bezzina), G. Zammit (75 L. Caruana), S. Darmanin.
Vittoriosa: E. Gatt; C. Spiteri, L. Cassar, G. Emmanuel, P. Aderibige, E. Atkins (65 L. Mallia), S. Boakye, A. Caruana, G. Sultana (65 A. Babatola), B. Micallef, A. Senna Azzopardi.
Ħamrun Spartans and Floriana will face each other in the Round of 16 of the Jubilee Cup after progressing past Senglea Athletic and Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s respectively.
The Spartans, as expected, dominated their tie against third-tier Senglea, though full credit goes to the Cottonera side for their resilience and fighting spirit throughout the contest.
Floriana, on the other hand, endured a major scare against Challenge League outfit Birżebbuġa, as they were held to a
1-1 draw until midway through the second half.
With the Jubilee Cup imposing a restriction of a maximum of five foreign players on the pitch, Ħamrun made several changes to their starting formation. Coach Giacomo Modica also had one eye on Thursday’s UEFA Conference League home fixture against Lausanne.
Francisco Celio replaced Henry Bonello in goal, while Malta U21 duo Sven Xerri and Daniel Letherby were handed starts alongside Scott Camilleri – son of former Spartans player and current team manager David Camilleri.
Despite the rotations, the Spartans still fielded a strong line-up featuring Joseph Mbong, Matias Garcia, Ante Ćorić, Ognjen Bjeličić and Emerson Marcelina.
For Garcia, it was a reunion with his former club Senglea, where he made his first appearance in Maltese football.
Senglea, meanwhile, opted to start Maltese competitions top scorer Timothy Thomas on the bench.
The Cottonera side suffered an early setback when goalkeeper Sean Mintoff picked up a serious injury on the 20th minute and was replaced by Justin Tonna. The substitute was immediately called into action, producing a fine save to deny Semir Smajlagić, before Sven Xerri had a goal ruled out for offside.
Ħamrun’s pressure eventually paid off as Ćorić broke the deadlock with a precise free-kick. Shortly before half-time, Smajlagić doubled the lead with a close-range header.
After the interval, substitute Ryan Camenzuli added a third, while N’Dri Koffi came off the bench to seal the 4-0 win in the closing stages.
In the other fixture, Floriana coach Daniel Portela named a strong starting line-up featuring captain Dunstan Vella and Portuguese forward Rui Areias, while goalkeeper Pablo Martin was given the nod ahead of regular starter Giacomo Cioletti.
Birżebbuġa coach Edgar Degabriele also fielded his best side, including summer signing Alex Bruno, formerly of Hibernians, who featured in the UEFA Conference League earlier this season. On the bench sat Randall Vella, brother of Floriana’s Dunstan.
The Greens made a bright start, taking the lead after just seven minutes through defender Owen Spiteri. Birżebbuġa equalised via David Souza, holding Floriana level at 1-1 by the break.
Portela turned to his key players in the second half, introducing Charles M’Mombwa, Jake Grech and Federico Varela. The changes made an impact, as Mattia Veselji restored Floriana’s advantage after the hour mark to secure their passage to the next round.
Another Premier League side and competition favourite to book their place in the Round of 16 was Hibernians, who cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Kirkop United.
The Paolites all but sealed the win within the opening 24 minutes, racing into a three-goal lead through captain Ayrton Attard, Miullen, and Cleiton.
After the break, Lucas Caruana added a fourth to round off a dominant display for the Paolites.
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ROUND OF 16
Żurrieq vs Mosta/Qala Saints.
Birkirkara vs Sliema Wanderers/St Andrews.
Żabbar St. Patrick/Pietà Hotspurs vs Naxxar Lions.
Żebbuġ Rangers vs Attard/Lija Athletic.
Mġarr United vs Valletta/Melita.
Ħamrun Spartans vs Floriana.
Tarxien Rainbows/Kerċem Ajax vs Gżira United/Fgura United.
Marsaxlokk/Balzan vs Hibernians.
