BALZAN FC- 0
SLIEMA WANDERERS- 0
(4-5 on penalties)
Balzan FC: I. Janjusevic, J. Grioli, P. Fenech, S. Bezzina, L. Micallef (L. Sciberras), C. Brincat (M. Focsa), A. Effiong, P. Calcado, B. Kaljevic (A. Souza), E. Serrano, D. Grima
Sliema W: E. Elezaj, A. Muscat, M. Scerri, N. Priso, C. Gatt Baldacchino, M. Potezica, P. Xuereb, J. Bezzina (A. Friggieri), D. Dos Santos (A. Tarlaziz), J.P. Farrugia, S. Bianciardi
Referee: M. Borg
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, L. Portelli
Additional asst.refs: A.M. Sant, T. Farrugia Cann
4th official: S. Spiteri
Yellow cards: M. Scerri, E. Serrano, N. Priso, A. Tarlaziz
Red cards: N. Priso
Attendance: 2,468
Sliema Wanderers won this season’s FA Trophy for a record 21 times in the club’s history beating novices Balzan on penalties in an unspectacular, but evenly balanced final that brought the curtain down on the domestic football season.
After a barren 120 minutes, defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino scored Sliema’s last and decisive penalty after the Wanderers’ keeper Entonjo Elezaj had saved Dylan Grima’s poor shot from the spot.
Sliema, who had Priso sent off on 83 minutes, held their nerves as the match wore on and went into extra time. Under coach Alfonso Greco, Sliema improved over the time in this competition and were full value for their success yesterday against inexperienced but obstinate opponents.
Balzan could not muster any semblance of attacking dynamism they had often shown throughout the season and fell flat in a crucial time. The occasion, their first ever FA Trophy final appearance, was perhaps too big for them to handle. The mood at the end was of utter deflation.
Sliema were efficient in defence, tactically faultless, and never lost their composure even when down to ten men for more than half an hour, including extra time.
The balance of power in the match was obvious as the Sliema fans rocked more vigorously in the stands just about any time in this season’s Premier League matches, and might have started as slight favourites. Not that either coach was anticipating a straightforward conclusion though.
Both teams had been energised by their surprise appearance in this year’s final and played with four men at the back and an anchor man in front. In the absence of the suspended Gary Muir, Mark Scerri played as left back for the Wanderers, with Peter Xuereb and Marko Potezica starting in midfield.
Balzan were at full strength and boosted by the return of Lydon Micallef, after missing the semi final against Birkirkara due to suspension, to join Kaljevic and Effiong in attack. Alan Souza started on the bench.
Two former greats, Edward Darmanin and Lolly Borg, representing the two clubs with the major FA Trophy wins, that is Sliema Wanderers (20) and Floriana (19), paraded the trophy onto the pitch, on a sunny afternoon at Ta’Qali National Stadium, prior to the teams’ entry in front of a sizeable but colourful crowd.
Sliema tore out of the block as Priso darted inside the Balzan area, after only four minutes, only for the alert Balzan keeper Janjusevic to rush off his line and head the ball into safety.
That was somewhat a false dawn as the match failed to reach high levels.
Sliema looked slightly sharper on the ball and enjoyed more of the possession, without inflicting much damage though, as Balzan stayed composed, showing defensive solidity and absorbed the early pressure.
It took more than haf an hour for Balzan to create the match’s first real threat. Sliema failed to clear their lines as Micallef, standing inside the area, was presented with an inviting pass from Serrano. His first effort was footed out by Sliema keeper Elezaj and the second blocked into a corner by Bianciardi.
But momentum swung back in Sliema’s way soon after. Priso had two attempts from inside the Balzan area blocked by keeper Janjusevic as Balzan were living dangerously at the back. A Muscat shot on Denni’s pass missed the target.
On the stroke of halftime Balzan again went close with a Serrano header going slightly wide.
Aware that something had to change, Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri put in Alan Souza for Kaljevic three minutes after the restart.
Balzan looked to take a tighter grip on the game as Sliema let hold much of the first half initiative. Effiong’s shot on the turn went over and on 70 minutes the same Balzan forward found space inside the Sliema area but shot wastefully over.
On a Bezzina cross, Micallef dragged the ball in the Sliema keeper’s hands.
Seven minutes from normal time, Sliema had Priso sent off for protesting too loud and too long with the referee, after being shown a yellow card, following a free kick awarded to Balzan in the middle of the pitch.
That left the Wanderers struggling in the late stages, although Farrugia still managed to hit a diagonal shot from the left that went fractionally wide before going to extra time.
Another disappointing extra half hour brought no emotions or goals as Balzan failed miserably to exploit their numerical superiority, even when Sliema struggled to find their rhythm.
Down to penalties, all the first eight taken were converted by Fenech, Serrano, Calcado and Effiong for Balzan and Scerri, Farrugia, Tarlaziz and Muscat for Sliema until Grima missed the fifth and Gatt Baldacchino obliged to give Sliema a happy ending to a turbulent season.