Pietà, Marsaxlokk look to stay on Euro route

After the International Football Tournament came to a close in midweek, the local football followers' focus this weekend shifts to the second round matches from the FA Trophy.

The draw last month pitted the six Premier League clubs against each other thus opening the way for either Mosta or Lija Athletic, of Division One, to book a place in the quarter-finals where they will join top seeds Sliema, Birkirkara, Hibernians and Valletta.

The most attractive tie is today's Pietà Hotspurs-Marsaxlokk (kick-off: 4 p.m.), two sides harbouring aspirations of European football next season.

Both sides experienced contrasting fortunes up to now.

Pietà took the Premier League by storm at first, producing various impressive performances only for their form to suffer a nosedive in the final matches of the second round.

Marsaxlokk were deeply involved in the transfer market last summer but still had a stuttering start in the league. It was only after the arrival of striker Daniel Bogdanovic in January that suddenly they hit top form to finish the first phase fourth and with a realistic chance of challenging for the title after the points were halved.

They reached the second round of the FA Trophy after beating St Patrick 1-0 and bidding to join the last eight for the second straight year.

Club president Victor Sciriha yesterday told The Times that looking at recent performances, winning the FA Trophy now ranks as one of the team's goals.

"This competition has now become one of our targets," he said. "We invested heavily in our squad so it is natural to expect us to challenge for the honours. The FA Trophy is one competition we believe we can do well in. A good run could well lead us to a memorable achievement and Euro football next season. Pietà are a tough proposition though so we would better take things step by step and make sure we join the last eight first."

The southerners stole much of the headlines this season through their involvement in the transfer market. Now, in the last few days it was reported that Marsaxlokk were approached by a German club with an interest in attacking duo Bogdanovic and Etienne Barbara.

"It's true a club in Germany asked to take Bogdanovic and Barbara for a short trial," Sciriha said.

"With the championship now in a crucial stage we agreed to let our two players go for a trial at the end of the season. Then, if the club decides to do business with us we will be ready to negotiate... perhaps a loan deal at first."

Bogdanovic and Barbara will be in the starting line-up today as coach Robert Kelly has a full squad at his disposal. The same, however, cannot be said of Pietà as coach Ray Farrugia is sweating on the fitness of Anatole Debono and Keith Fenech. Pierre Aquilina is also close to full fitness and expected to be given a place on the bench for Pietà who beat Senglea 2-0 in the previous round.

This season, Pietà met Marsaxlokk on two occasions in the league. The first match finished all square (1-1) and Marsaxlokk won the second round match 1-0. Farrugia reckons that defeat came after one of Pietà's most disappointing performances this season.

"That was a poor show... the worst we've played so far," Farrugia said. "The players failed to perform. It was so easy for our opponents on that day. But, this cup tie will be a different story. We've been off track for a few weeks but I think the players are in a better frame of mind now."

A place in Europe is Pietà's main target. Farrugia is confident his players will approach all matches as if they were cup finals.

"If the players come up with the same form we had early in the season we can achieve most of our goals," he said. "We had a couple of bad games, OK, but now that's over. It seems the players have regained their fighting spirit... we'll be difficult to beat I'm sure."

Floriana vs Balzan - today, 2 p.m. (National Stadium)
After securing a place in the Championship Pool, Floriana will be looking to enhance their chances of European football next season by making further inroads in the FA Trophy.

The Greens reached the semi-finals twice the past three years, going down in the last four stage to Valletta in 2001 (2-1) and Birkirkara (4-1) last year.

This afternoon, they face a tricky test to make the quarter-finals when clashing with an enterprising Balzan side who upset many an applecart so far this season.

Floriana and Balzan met twice this season. The first meeting was in the opening round of the league with Floriana earning a comfortable 5-1 win. The second round encounter was a more balanced affair that ended in a 2-2 draw.

Yildiz is without two key players today.

Claude Mattocks will only be back late next month after suffering a hamstring injury with the national team in the International Tournament. Brazilian forward Edoardo Do Nascimento has resumed training after recovering from an ankle injury but is not yet fully fit.

Jimmy Briffa, the Balzan coach, is without the injured Neville Arpa. Goalkeeper Ernest Barry is rated as doubtful as he was unavailable for training during the week.

Mosta vs Lija Athletic - today, 9 a.m. (Hibs Ground)
This match-up will ensure that a team from Division One will be in the hat for the quarter-final draw as Mosta will be looking to reach the last eight for the second season running at the expense of Lija.

Last season, Mosta had eliminated Gozo FC and Mqabba before going down heavily to Birkirkara 5-0.

Lija, still involved in the race for promotion despite a 3-2 upset to Naxxar last week, reached the second round after beating Mqabba 2-0. Mosta trounced neighbours Naxxar 4-1.

Only one point is separating third-placed Lija and Mosta in the standings. The two teams met just once this season with the Blues taking the honours after a 2-1 win. Their next match could indeed be a cracker as they face each other on the very last day of the league.

Msida St Joseph vs Hamrun Spartans - tomorrow, 11 a.m. (Hibs Ground)
The 'Relegation Pool derby' between Msida and Hamrun is another balanced tie in this round of the cup competition. Both sides have endured some tough times so far, occupying the bottom two rungs of the Premier League leaving their hopes of salvation hanging on a hairline.

Msida were rocked by the resignation of coach Joe Grech earlier this month. The team is now under the supervision of a selection board.

This will be the second time for the Spartans in the FA Trophy this season to face rivals from neighbouring towns. In the first round Hamrun ousted Marsa 3-0. Msida required extra-time to eliminate Division One team San Gwann 3-2 way back in November.

A win for either side tomorrow could be the ideal tonic ahead of next month's clash in their first match from the Relegation Pool.

In their two league meetings, Msida took the honours in the first round, 2-0. In the corresponding second round fixture, a late Adrian Farrugia goal earned the Saints a 2-2 draw.

Msida will be at full strength but the Spartans are without goalkeeper Daniel Dengaky, Jonathan Magri Overend and Evano Briffa, all not fully fit.