Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s secured the final spot in the BOV Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Thursday evening, producing a clinical 3-0 victory over Marsa at the Centenary Stadium.

The Blues dominated from the opening whistle, needing only eight minutes to break the deadlock. Paul Lapira proved to be the quickest to react, slotting home a well-placed finish to give Birżebbuġa an early lead and set the tone for the match.

Despite Marsa’s attempts to find an equaliser before the break, the Saints remained disciplined in defense. They effectively ended the contest as a spectacle early in the second half when Jamie Scerri doubled the advantage in the 50th minute. The victory was then turned into a rout in the 66th minute, as Samson Chibuike Charles found the net to make it 3-0 and ensure a comfortable final half-hour for the southshore side.

The Road to the Quarter-Finals

With this victory, Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s join a diverse final eight. The quarter-final line-up is notably split between Challenge League heavyweights and the elite of Gozitan football, setting the stage for several cross-island clashes.

The qualified teams are:

• Challenge League: Birżebbuġa St. Peter’s, Gudja United, Melita, and Pieta’ Hotspurs.
• Gozo First Division: Kerċem Ajax, SK Victoria Wanderers, Xagħra United, and Xewkija Tigers.

The competition now moves to the boardroom, with the quarter-final draws scheduled to take place this Friday.