Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/260953
50 FOOTBALL maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2014 Sport PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD SPORTTODAY Valletta defeat Naxxar to reach semi-finals Naxxar Lions ........ 0 Valletta ............... 1 VALLETTA defeated Naxxar Lions 1-0 to advance into the semi-finals of the U* BET FA Trophy. 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 Mif- sud Triganza surprised Naxxar's goal- keeper 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 pen- alty spot. From the penalty spot Denni Rocha dos Santos beat goalkeeper Ju- lian 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 Val- letta's goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili on the 65th minute. Naxxar failed to score and the match was decided by Dennis Rocha dos San- tos' penalty to put Valletta into the U*BET FA Trophy semi-finals. NAXXAR LIONS Julian Azzopardi, Raimi Bakare, Angus Buhagiar, Ry- an Gilmour Cassar, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, Andrew Decesare, Mattia Del Negro (28' Daren Falzon), Thiago Lopes de Souza, David Alejandro Reano, Ter- ence 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, Jonath- an Caruana, Steve Borg, Ryan Fenech, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (46' Luke Montebello), Roderick Briffa, Abayomi Seun Owonikoko (46' Vladimir Rassu- lov), Hamza Barry (86' Edmond Agius), Shaun Bajada, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Irakli Maisuradze. Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Ian Azzop- ardi, Llywelyn Cremona, Luke Dimech. Coach: Andre Paus Referee: Robert Harvey (IRE) Assistant Referees: Trevor Conlon, De- clan Toland (IRE) Fourth Official: Paul McLaughlin (IRE) Yellow Cards: Thiago, Reano, Sto- janovic, Andre Rocha Scorers: 24' Denni Rocha dos Santos pen