Valletta defeat Naxxar to reach semi-finals

Valletta and Naxxar both put in a good performance with only Valletta's goal thanks to a penalty separating both teams.

Immediately from the start, Valletta came close to scoring when a powerful long distance shot by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza surprised Naxxar's goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi.

Hamza Barry had his shot deflected into a corner on the 10th minute.

Valletta managed to take the lead on the 24th minute thanks to a penalty. Mattia Del Negro brought Denni Rocha dos Santos down inside the area and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. From the penalty spot Denni Rocha dos Santos beat goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi with his shot.

Valletta almost doubled their lead just three minutes later when Denni's shot hit the woodwork.

Naxxar's Terrence Scerri has his shot on goal deflected into a corner by Valletta's goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili on the 65th minute.

Naxxar failed to score and the match was decided by Dennis Rocha dos Santos' penalty to put Valletta into the U*BET FA Trophy semi-finals.

NAXXAR LIONS Julian Azzopardi, Raimi Bakare, Angus Buhagiar, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, Andrew Decesare, Mattia Del Negro (28′ Daren Falzon), Thiago Lopes de Souza, David Alejandro Reano, Terence Scerri, Filip Stojanovic (82′ Andre Rocha da Silva).
Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, Duane Bonnici, John Debono, Jurgen Debono, Yaron Sammut.
Coach: Winston Muscat

VALLETTA Nukri Revishvili, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Ryan Fenech, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (46′ Luke Montebello), Roderick Briffa, Abayomi Seun Owonikoko (46′ Vladimir Rassulov), Hamza Barry (86′ Edmond Agius), Shaun Bajada, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Irakli Maisuradze.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Ian Azzopardi, Llywelyn Cremona, Luke Dimech.
Coach: Andre Paus

Referee: Robert Harvey (IRE)
Assistant Referees: Trevor Conlon, Declan Toland (IRE)
Fourth Official: Paul McLaughlin (IRE)
Yellow Cards: Thiago, Reano, Stojanovic, Andre Rocha
Scorers: 24′ Denni Rocha dos Santos pen