Sliema Wanderers 1
Żebbuġ Rangers 1

(aet – Żebbuġ Rangers win 7-6 on pens)

Żebbug, not overawed by the prospect of facing the most successful team in the FA Trophy, caused a shock upset when they beat Sliema after a penalty shoot-out.

Initially it was all Sliema with their best efforts falling at the feet of Italians Paltemio Barbetti and Luigi Ruggiero.

As the minutes passed Rangers grew in confidence and the Wanderers struggled to find any spaces. They looked to step up a gear after the break with Żebbuġ goalkeeper Justin Spiteri diving to his right to push away Mark Scerri’s shot.

Żebbug threatened on 63 minutes when from a Tabone free-kick, Francica failed to make contact with the ball with only Zammit to beat. Ciantar almost struck six minutes later but was denied by a one-handed save from Spiteri.

Rangers took the lead on 72 minutes when Britto let fly a dipping shot that flew into the top corner of the net.

But Spiteri inadvertently put the Blues back in it on 78 minutes when he fumbled his attempt to stop Ruggiero’s shot and in came Alex Muscat to slot the ball inside an empty net.

The Blues tried to push for a late winner but Żebbuġ held on to force extra-time.

Sliema were on top in overtime but for all their possession they only had a Stefano Bianciardi header that finished over to show and penalties were needed to decide the issue.

Sliema: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, P. Barbetti, J. Mintoff (53 M. Ciantar), M. Scerri, L. Ruggiero, A. Decesare, C. Gatt Baldacchino, A. Faccini (73 D. Ortega), M. Briffa (78 J. Mifsud), S. Bianciardi.

Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, L. Galea, M. Francica, W. Camenzuli, M. Farrugia, M. Rodrigues Britto, A. Tabone, J. Xerri, R. Spiteri, L.J. Agius, D. D’Agostino.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Penalty sequence: Tabone (Ż) scores (1-0); Scerri (S) scores (1-1); Britto (Z) scores (2-1); Barbetti (S) scores (2-2); Camenzuli (Ż) scores (3-2); Gatt Baldacchino (S) scores (3-3); Agius (Ż) scores (4-3); Ortega (S) scores (4-4); Francica (Ż) scores (5-4); Muscat (S) scores (5-5); Galea (Ż) saved (5-5); Biancardi (S) misses (5-5); Farrugia (Ż) misses (5-5); Mifsud (S) saved (5-5); Spiteri (Ż) scores (6-5); Ruggeri (S) scores (6-6); Xerri (Ż) scores (7-6); Decesare (S) saved (7-6).

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