Malta FA Jubilee Cup Review: Marsaxlokk and Tarxien progress through penalties, Zabbar complete comeback against Naxxar

Photos by Owen Damato, Malta FA

MALTA FA JUBILEE CUP
SECOND PHASE SECOND ROUND

Hamrun Spartans 2-0 Floriana
Yesterday afternoon, in a match valid from the Round of 16 of the Jubilee Cup, supported by Enemed, at the Tony Bezzina Stadium, Hamrun Spartans defeated Floriana 2-0 with a goal in each half, not even two weeks after their 3-1 victory in the Premier League. Therefore, the Spartans secured qualification to the quarter-finals of this competition, setting up a mouthwatering tie with old rivals Valletta. Quite remarkably, Hamrun extended their unbeaten competitive streak against Floriana to 19 consecutive games, as the Greens defeated the Malta champions for the last time in 2018.

Hamrun made their intentions clear from the start and after just a few seconds, Semir Smajlagic came face to face with Pablo Picon and should have scored but the Floriana goalkeeper managed to save the goal attempt of the Bosnian striker. The Spartans continued to dictate matters and in the eighth minute, former Floriana midfielder Matias Garcia tried his luck with a shot from distance which ended high.

The team of coach Giacomo Modica continued to dominate and on the half-hour mark they opened the scoring when Lucas Lopez flicked the ball into his own net from a shot by Merlin Hadzi, thus committing an unfortunate own goal. It took Floriana some time to create anything in the Hamrun box but finally responded in the 37th minute when Mattia Veselji had his close range shot brilliantly saved by Henry Bonello.

After the change of ends, Hamrun came close to doubling their lead as in the 58th minute, Garcia produced a shot from distance which sailed just wide. In the 69th minute, Bonello came out of his position to deny Veselji from continuing to advance towards goal, where he was booked, amidst fervent protests from Floriana who claimed the Malta international should have been sent off. Hamrun sealed their victory six minutes from regular time when substitute Joseph Mbong erroneously received the ball from Floriana defender Kouya Mabea, beating Picon with an accurate grounder to decide the game.

Marsaxlokk 2-2 Hibernians
(Marsaxlokk winners after penalty kicks: 4-2)
At last Wednesday night’s opener at the Centenary Stadium, Marsaxlokk and Hibernians played out a 2-2 draw, the same result as the Premier League match the previous Saturday. Penalties had to decide the issue, with the Seasiders taking them better than the Paolites. It was a historic match in Maltese football as, for the first time ever, the refereeing quartet made use of the new Football Video Support (FVS) system, which had recently been introduced by the MFA.

The match had a slow start but after quarter of an hour, Hibernians created their first opportunity when Pablo Sanchez paraded the attempt of Cleiton, with James Vella clearing the rebound of Dexter Xuereb from the goal-line. Towards the half-hour mark, Hibernians claimed a penalty for a handball incident with Jake Ghio, which was originally overseen by the referee, but a penalty was given after FVS intervention, indeed a first in Maltese football. Villela stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot to give Hibernians a 1-0 lead. On 35 minutes, Marsaxlokk equalised when a free-kick halfway the Hibernians half by Nikolai Muscat was cleared by Bjorn Kristensen, in the path of Enrico Pepe who volleyed home from the edge of the area. Two minutes later, Kristensen lost the ball in midfield with Ghio serving Marcelo Santos Barros, who unleashed a long-distance attempt which was turned into a corner by Hugo Sacco.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Marsaxlokk took the lead when Juvhel Tsoumou headed home a Leandro Aguirre corner from close-range. However, in the attack that followed, Hibernians were awarded a long-range free-kick, taken by Lucas Caruana with Sanchez totally misjudging the kick to send both teams into the dressing room with a 2-2 score.

Most definitely less entertainment after the change of ends, with both sides initially failing to reach their forward line. On 65 minutes, left back Aguirre unleashed a powerful long-distance attempt which was tipped over the crossbar by Sacco. With three minutes regular left, Cleiton nearly knocked in a Pablo Alves cross from the left for Hibernians, which could have meant a dramatic winner for the Paolites. Both sides failed to find the net however in the second half, which meant straight to the penalty series. Marsaxlokk proved to be stronger in that sequence, scoring all four spotkicks while Sanchez managed to save two of the four Hibernians penalties.

Marsaxlokk FC 2-2 Hibernians FC - 05.11.25 - Photo by Malta FA

Birkirkara 2-3 Sliema Wanderers
Last Wednesday, Sliema Wanderers had no particular trouble beating Birkirkara by the odd goal in five, advancing comfortably to the Quarter-Final of this prestigious competition. The two Birkirkara goals arrived deep into stoppage time with the referee in charge blowing the final whistle not long after the Stripes’ second goal. The Blues were all over their counterparts as a 3-0 final score would have fitted better than the eventual outcome. Also in this match, FVS was used by the referees in charge.

Sliema took the lead on 13 minutes when Mamadu Bah tapped home a Myles Beerman cross from the left which was somehow missed by the complete Birkirkara defence. On 32 minutes, Bah did well to outpace Luis Cordova on the left side of the box, crossing to Roko Prsa whose attempt sailed inches wide. But three minutes later it was 2-0, once again through Bah, undoubtedly one of the best players in this game, who headed a Steve Pisani pass past Matthew Grech. On 39 minutes, there was a handball incident in the Birkikara box which was initially overseen by the referee, but after FVS intervention it was clear that Cordova cleared the ball with his arm. The referee gave the Ecuadorian a yellow card and the penalty was converted by Murilo Freire.

Birkirkara FC 2-3 Sliema Wanderers FC - 05.11.25 - Photo by Malta FA

Seven minutes after the restart, Birkirkara striker Asumah Abubakar’s attempt was turned into a corner by Rashed Al-Tumi, a desperate attempt to get back into the match. Sliema created a few more goalscoring possibilities through Pisani on the hour mark and seven minutes later, Plut rounded the Birkirkara goalkeeper but failed to find target from a difficult angle. On 73 minutes, Bah could have scored the 4-0 with a slick move after receiving from Magri Overend but Grech managed to block. On the stroke of full-time, Kaiden Fenech tapped home a consolation goal for Birkirkara after receiving from Manuel Morello. Deep into stoppage time, Kemar Reid even reduced the deficit to one, but it was too little too late for Birkirkara to upset the Blues.

Tarxien Rainbows 1-1 Gzira United
(Tarxien Rainbows winners after penalty kicks: 7-6)
On Thursday night, Tarxien Rainbows booked their place in the next Quarter-Finals of the Jubilee Cup after overcoming Gzira United 4-2 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw at the Centenary Stadium. The Maroons took the lead just after the half hour mark but Tarxien equalised through a penalty halfway the second period.

Gzira made the brighter start, with André Carlos testing Juan Spiteri early on and Fabricio Silva Kante striking the post from distance not long after. Tarxien responded through Alberto Wallisson Dantas, whose close-range effort was superbly saved by Karl Sargent. The Maroons broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when David Xuereb unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that flew past Spiteri.

Tarxien improved after the interval and were rewarded on 63 minutes, when a FVS intervention resulted in a penalty for a foul inside the area. Wallisson converted confidently, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to restore parity. The task for the Rainbows became more difficult late on when substitute Miguel D’Alessandro was dismissed after collecting two quick bookings for halting a Maroons counterattack. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Rainbows held firm to force penalties with the shoot-out going to Tarxien, who missed just once while Gzira failed to convert two penalties.

Tarxien Rainbows FC 1-1 Gzira United - 06.11.25 - Photo by Owen Damato - Malta FA

Zabbar St Patrick 4-2 Naxxar Lions
Also Zabbar St Patrick booked their place in the next round of the Jubilee Cup after overturning a deficit to claim a 4-2 victory over Naxxar Lions in last Thursday’s opener at the Centenary Stadium, building on the impressive win against Valletta in the Premier League. Two late goals by Mario Fontanella and Pedro Cejas sealed the issue for the ever-improving Zabbar side.

Naxxar struck first with their opening chance of the match. Rosiel Pereira delivered a precise cross from the right and Christian Kontchou controlled, finishing clinically from inside the area to give the Lions an early advantage. Zabbar responded with growing pressure and came close on the half-hour when Pedro Cejas aimed a low effort towards the far corner, only to see the ball drift just wide. But three minutes later, Chad international Haroun Tchaouna produced a moment of brilliance, unleashing a powerful strike from outside the box that left goalkeeper Matthias Debono with no chance. Debono kept Naxxar level moments later with a superb double save, first denying Tchaouna from close range and then reacting quickly to block Toni Brito’s follow-up effort.

The Saints started the second half brightly and took the lead shortly after the restart. Ryan Scicluna collected the ball on the left and guided a precise angled shot into the far corner to make it 2-1. Naxxar restored parity in the 62nd minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul inside the area. Gabriel Costa stepped up and confidently converted from the spot.

Zabbar St Patrick FC 4-2 Naxxar Lions FC - 06.11.25 - Photo by Malta FA

The team of coach Aniello Parisi were superior in the last part of the game. Substitute Mario Fontanella made an immediate impact, tapping in from close range to re-establish the Saints’ lead with 16 minutes remaining. Minutes later, Cejas atoned for his earlier miss, finishing a well-threaded pass from Jurgen Pisani to put the result beyond doubt. Zabbar were reduced to ten in the closing stages after Strahija Jovancic was dismissed following a FVS review, but the Saints managed the final moments professionally to seal a deserved victory.

Mgarr United 0-4 Valletta
On Friday night at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Valletta brushed aside Mgarr’s resistance in a one-sided affair to move to the quarter final stages of the Jubilee Cup. The Citizens scored two goals each half to set-up a Quarter-Final tie with Hamrun Spartans, a match to look forward to.

As expected, Valletta took the initiative from the first minute pushing their opponents in their penalty area. In the first ten minutes the Northerners’ defence had two lucky escapes with point blank shots from Andrea Zammit and Keyon Ewurun blocked by their defence. On 19 minutes, Jonathan Debono made a great save off a Yuri Messias first timer, but four minutes later, Yuri was not to be denied scoring from the edge of the area. On the half hour an Thaylor Aldama drive sailed over the bar and five minutes from the break Valletta won a penalty when Zammit was floored by Crescencio. From the penalty spot the same Zammit made no mistake with a low drive.

10 minutes into the second half Valletta made it three when a Thaylor Aldama shot was deflected by substitute Irvin Farrugia into his own net. Ten minutes later an Andrei Ciolacu header was cleared off the goal line by a Mgarr defender. The Whites pushed for more with Ciolacu and Melillo having near misses. Fifteen minutes from time, Jefferson De Assis made it four after receiving from Aldama to round up a handsome victory.

Zurrieq 0-0 Mosta
(Mosta winners after penalty kicks: 5-6)
On Thursday night at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Mosta were made to sweat by Challenge League side Zurrieq to progress to the next round of the Jubilee Cup after the penalty lottery. The Blues, with ten men for most of the time, failed to impress against a Zurrieq side who showed great tactical discipline and who grew into the game, only to be beaten in the penalty shootout.

The opening exchanges were quite balanced with Zurrieq appearing combative. Matters complicated themselves for Mosta when their goalkeeper Udoh Akpan was sent off after 18 minutes by stopping a promising Jonathan Money attack. The resulting free kick by Anderson De Barros ended up just wide.

Zurrieq created a good chance on 34 minutes with a shot by Sebastian Grech that ended up well saved by Jayden Farrugia. The opening period lacked highlights however, with both defences cancelling each other out.

The second half was another cagey affair with very little goalmouth action. Mosta should have won it in stoppage time, but Daniel Machado’s shot grazed the crossbar. The match went to penalties with Mosta goalkeeper Jayden Farrugia saving two penalties to send his side through to the Quarter-Finals.

Zebbug Rangers 2-2 Attard
(Zebbug Rangers winners after penalty kicks: 7-6)
On Wednesday night, Attard stretched Challenge League side Zebbug Rangers to the limit in an entraining game, scoring a late equaliser to send the tie into penalties. The Seracini were the only Amateur League 1 side who managed to reach the Last 16, quite an achievement.

Attard started strongly at the Victor Tedesco Stadium and had a good opportunity with Nicholas Schembri shooting just wide after just three minutes. Daniel Agius’ side even took the lead on 15 minutes when a shot by Schembri was somehow steered into the Zebbug net by defender Christian Grech. However, Zebbug equalized on 21 minutes through a swift counter with Daren Falzon concluding successfully. Falzon almost put Zebbug ahead but his powerful shot hit the post just two minutes later. The game was open with chances at both ends although Zebbug seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

Hugo Santos had a fine rising shot that went just wide on 36 minutes. An almost identical effort by the same player went wide on 41 minutes as the match continued in entertaining fashion.

Attard had a good shot by Nicholas Schembri that went just over on 55 minutes. But it was Zebbug who took the lead on 70 minutes after a fine personal move by Hugo Santos who guided the ball past Miguel Caruana from an acute angle. But Attard managed to equalise on a minute into stoppage time with a goal by Precious Nwanko. Zebbug eventually prevailed 7-6 in a dramatic penalty shootout to set up a meeting with Zabbar St Patrick, with the Rangers being the only Challenge League side in the Quarter-Finals of the competition.

The Jubilee Cup resumes on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November with the following quarter-final pairings:
Mosta vs Sliema Wanderers
Zabbar St Patrick vs Zebbug Rangers
Valletta vs Hamrun Spartans
Tarxien Rainbows vs Marsaxlokk

The winners of the Mosta versus Sliema Wanderers game will face the winner of the Zabbar St Patrick and Zebbug Rangers game, while Valletta or Hamrun will play Tarxien or Marsaxlokk in the other Semi-Final, both scheduled to take place in the first week of December, with the grand final set for Monday 8 December.