Hibernians 0
Sliema W 0
Sliema won 4-1 on penalties
Hibernians: R. Briffa, D. Vella, M. Kreuzriegler, J. Lima, C. Failla, R. Soares, B. Kristensen (A. Neto), A. Agius, J. Mbong (M. Dias), Jorginho, G. Gorozia (J. Bezzina)
Sliema W: G. Zammit, G. Adamovic (J. Pearson), F. Temile, M. Muchardi, E. Agius (M. Sansone), J. Mintoff, R. Correa, P. Xuereb, N. Milinceanu, K. Shaw, A. Nii Nortey (K. Ameli)
Referee: M. Degabriele
Asst.refs: L. Portelli, A. Camilleri
4th official: F. Zammit
Yellow cards: R. Soares, A. Nii Nortey, F. Temile, D. Vella, J. Lima, J. Bezzina, J. Mintoff
Red card: R. Soares
Attendance: 1,869
Sliema Wanderers' pursuit of an FA Trophy win continues in the aftermath of a victory chiselled from a penalty shoot-out over champions Hibernians at the end of a goalless draw.
Temile, Muchardi, Xuereb and Sansone were their scorers as Lima and Jorginho missed the target with the first and third penalty and in between Bezzina scored the only kick for Hibernians.
This is the third Premier side that Sliema have knocked out of this season's competition on their way to the semi finals, following wins over St Andrews and Hamrun Spartans in the previous rounds.
Sliema Wanderers and Hibernians were looking for success in the FA Trophy to offer a fillip in the Premier League.
The champions are quite a bit off the pace, seven points adrift of leaders Balzan.
Sliema's defeat by Birkirkara in the Premier League the previous week, had left the Wanderers stuck in mid table.
In the absence of Bianchardi and Scerri, Goran Adamovic and Kurt Shaw were Sliema's central defenders yestderday. Ghanian Nii Nortey started as left back, with Correa playing in a more advanced wide role as the Wanderers crowded their midfield with Matias Muchardi, Peter Xuereb and Edmond Agius.
Hibernians were also weakened. Rudy Briffa again played in goal. Rui Gomez was missing in defence and Joao Moreira was suspended. Joseph Mbong was stretchered off, following a tackle by Nii Nortey,midway through the half to make way for Marcelo Dias. Jorginho was included in their attack after missing some matches recently as Jurgen Degabriele and Johan Bezzina started on the bench.
Hibernians sought to take early advantage, pressing aggressively and leaving Sliema struggling to escape their own half. They only won a couple of corners though, with none proving productive.
Sliema, belatedly woke up past the half hour and tried to venture into enemy territory with some increased frequency. But they also lacked enough conviction in the final third, even because Milinceanu failed to connect to Correa's cross, and not too much went on for the first 45 minutes, during which the sides cancelled each other out.
Shortly after the interval, Temile stole time on Andrei Agius in front of the Hibernians goal but put his shot narrowly off target.
On the other end, a well taken Failla free kick was held out by the outstrteched Sliema keeper Zammit.
These were the match's first real chances and something of rarity.
Accordingly the second half featured considerable Hibernians pressure, including plenty of crosses, but the champions were consistently let down by disappointing lack of thrust.
Two minutes after going in for the injured Kristensen, substitute Arlindo Neto missed Hibernians' best opportunity, failing to score from point-blank range on a Failla delivery after 67 minutes.
Hats off for Sliema's defence that cleared ball after ball, with both Shaw and Adamovic holding firm at the back but the overall lack of imagination and incision largely explained why the tie regressed into a less than thrilling spectacle and remained goalless after 120 minutes.
Although Hibernians had defender Soares sent off for a second caution, before the end of normal time, and were thus forced to play an extra half hour with a man down, they could have secured their passage, were it not for smart saves from Sliema keeper Zammit who held out efforts from Neto and Bezzina and stretch the tie to penalties.
Valletta make Premier League pedigree count
Valletta 2
Zejtun C 0
Valletta: H. Bonello, S. Borg, J. Cruz, M. Mifsud (R. Muscat), M. Piciollo (A. Prosa), E. Beltre', K. Nwoko, J. Zerafa, D. Dos Santos, C. Pani, M. Alba (R. Fenech)
Zejtun C: D. Zarb, C. Giordimaina, A. Scozzese, O. Elhussieny, N. Tabone, J. Castano (J. Sato), A. Smeir, B. Farrugia (G. Sultana), D. Albanese, Y. Camilleri, E. Vella (A. Carabott)
Referee: P. Farrugia
Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista
4th official: J. Utulu
Scorers: K. Nwoko 25, S. Borg 70
Yellow cards: M. Alba, C. Giordimaina, C. Pani, S. Borg
At the end of a stress-free victory for Danilo Doncic' men, Valletta had safely navigated a passage into the FA Trophy semi finals and the crowd were standing to acclaim their players.
Although Zejtun Corinthians, from Division 1, had dumped out Premier side Mosta in the previous round to reach their first ever Trophy quarter final, yesterday they failed to claim another scalp against superior Valletta. The gulf in class between the two sides was too obvious.
This, in truth, was an occasion devoid of drama, without any chance of an upset. The result was not in doubt from the 25th minute, when Kyrian Nwoko broke the deadlock with a low drive. Steve Borg added another goal with 20 minutes remaining as Valletta completely dominated proceedings.
Valletta coach had omitted the likes of Ryan Camilleri, Rowen Muscat, Albert Prosa and Raed Saleh from his starting line-up, but it remained an imposing selection with four attacking players like Nwoko. Denni Dos Santos, Piciollo and Michael Mifsud in a front line that, at times of late, has lacked punch.
Setting out with a rigid five-man defence and a line of four in front of them, was an indication that Zejtun were there to contain their opponents for as long as possible. Johan Alberto Castano was their most advanced player.
The Corinthians were noticeably hushed and worried whenever Valletta swept forward, but it took the Premeir League side more than 20 minutes to produce some real threat. That came in the form of a Denni low free kick that missed the target. The same player fluffed another chance minutes later as he ran well inside the Zejtun area for a long Alba cross but skied the ball from a promising position.
Valletta forged ahead midway through the half. Mifsud played a square pass towards the middle for Kyrian Nwoko to hit low past keeper Zarb from the edge oif the area.
Valletta increased their momentum thereafter. Piciollo's low shot was deflected into a corner and keeper Zarb was called to hold out Alba's fierce drive on teh half hour.
On 38 minutes, Mifsud pounced on a loose ball inside the Zejtun area but his goalbound effort was blocked.
By then, Zejtun had already effected two substitutions, with Junky Sato replacing the injured Castano and Adrian Carabott going in for Vella.
Carabott was involved in the Corinthians' first foray one minute before the break. His low cross from the left fell to Farrugia who shot over.
And on the stroke of halftime, a piece of elegant defending by Scozzese denied Valletta a second goal, as the Italian first shrugged off the challenge of the advancing Nwoko and then robbed Piciollo of the ball with a neat tackle inside the area.
Valletta continued to dominate proceedings after the break, albeit without creating any clear chances to increase their lead. But as the second half progressed, Zejtun remained off key, offering little, if any, threat to Bonello's goal.
On 70 minutes Valletta defender Steve Borg beat Yessous Camilleri's feeble aerial challenge to head in Alba's floating free kick from close range. That, of course, killed all of Zejtun's hopes, as Valletta moved on content.
Birkirkara comfortably in semi-finals
Qrendi 0
Birkirkara 3
Qrendi: J. Azzopardi, M. Farrugia, B. Bondin (K. Abela), P. Mrvic, D. Santos da Hora, Z. Bowman (A. Agius), E. Amaira (D. Zarb), M. Barbara, S. Nakamura, J. Sousa, D. Martini.
Birkirkara: D. Cassar, E. Herrera, F. Barbosa, M. Andelkovic, O. Rolovic (G. Zammit), N. Vukanac, C. Da Silva Goncalves (Z. Cassar), W. Ferreira, S. Dimitrov (J. Grech), R. Scicluna, C. Attard.
Referee: E. Grech.
Asst. Refs: D. Sultana, D. Petrovic.
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann.
Scorers: C. Attard, N. Vukanac, E. Herrera
Yellow cards: P. Mrvic, Z. Bowman, A. Agius.
Birkirkara found little difficulty in overcoming first division outfit Qrendi as they won to earn their berth in the semifinals.
It was more or less an easy win for the superior Stripes despite a somewhat difficult start when they were frustrated by the defensive-minded Qrendi side.
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit did not make use of goalkeeper Nowmovsky and gave David Cassar a rare appearance in goal. Jake Grech also started the match on the substitutes' bench.
The match took a long time to take off as Qrendi packed their own half and rarely gave Birkirkara a good opportunity to have a pot at goal.
In fact, in the first half, Birkirkara dominated from start to finish, but could not find a way past the amassed Qrendi defence.
As was expected the first division outfit found it hard to move upfield and Birkirkara goalie David Cassar had an easy afternoon - not a single decent shot to deal with.
In the second half, the pattern of the match did not change as Birkirkara continued to dominate with Qrendi pegged back in their own half for very long stretches.
The Greens once again found difficulty in moving upfield as Birkirkara's midfield secgtpor was well in command, but they managed a few decent, albeit ineffective, attacks.
The first real chance for Birkirkara arrived on the 33rd minute when from a Cain Attard cross, Carlos Alberto Goncalves headed straight into Julian Azzopardi's waiting hands from three metres.
Moments later, from a Dimitrov freekick, a Vukanac shot was well saved by the diving Azzopardi.
The Stripes now pressed harder and from a Herrera cross, Goncalves failed to control the ball properly and the Qrendi defence could clear the danger.
On 38 minutes, from an Andelkovic cross, it was Ferreira who had a header blocked. The ball went to Goncalves whose header was saved by Azzopardi.
A minute later, it was Rolovic who went into the Qrendi area only to see his effort going wide.
Birkirkara were finally rewarded on the 41st minute when following a Ferreira cross, a Vukanac shot was flicked into the net by Cain Attard.
At the start of the second half, Birkirkara were again dangerous when a Rolovic cross was saved by Azzopardi before Dimitrov could connect in front of goal.
In the 56th minute, Birkirkara added a second goal. From a Dimitrov corner, it was Vukanac who rose above friend and foe to head past Azzopardi.
On 69 minutes, it was Azzopardi who saved Qrendi again when he turned to corner a Jake Grech effort.
Two minutes later, the same Grech should have done better than sending the ball high from an ideal scoring position.
Birkirkara scored a final third goal in the 88th minute when Edward Herrera found the net with a fine rising shot from the edge of the area.
A minute from full time Qrendi had their first real chance when a Nakamura effort was tipped onto the crossbar by goalie Cassar.
In added time, Andelkovic had a shot towards an unguarded net blocked by a Qrendi defender.
Balzan through despite lacklustre display
Lija A 1
Balzan 3
Lija Ath.: J. Martinelli, C. Cassar (M. Clinch), L. Muscat (P. Borg), D. Xerri, S. Beu, A. Sammut, R. Sammut (R. Kooh Sohna), O. Sidibe, H. Vilfor, L. Schembri, K. Hirose.
Balzan: I. Janjusevic, C. Brincat (J. Zerafa), J. Grioli, U. Ljubomirac, E. Serrano Valero, B. Kaljevic (S. Arab), M. Lepovic, P. Fenech (F. Attard), M. Johnson, JC. De Fiori Mendes, A. Da Piaxo Alves.
Referee: I. Myrtja (Albania).
Asst refs: A. Mahmuti, D. Myftari.
4th official: K. Barjamaj.
Scorers: A. Da Paixo Alves, U. Ljubomirac, A. Sammut, . De Fiori Mendes.
Yellow cards: M. Lepovic, C. Brincat, J. Martinelli, Janjusevic,
Attendance: 554.
Premier League leaders Balzan also reached the quarterfinals yesterday beating bottom club Lija Athletic 3-1.
Two early strikes by Da Paixo and Ljubomirac within the opening 15 minutes set them on their way to victory against the luckless Lija side. But they had to wait till the final five minutes to assure themselves of their win with a third goal through De Fiori Mendes.
Lija had fought back to reduce the gap through Aaron Sammut by the end of the first half, and they fought gallantly in the second half going close to forcing extra time before Balzan scored the third goal which killed all their hopes.
But despite the defeat, I admired the efforts of the Lija players who gave their best as Balzan could only provide their fans with a lacklustre display.
In the second half, Lija's efforts increased considerably and they also went very close to obtaining an equaliser before Balzan eventually sealed the issue with a third goal six minutes from the end.
Balzan took the lead on 11 minutes. Paul Fenech set De Fiori Mendes in the Lija area. The latter's shot was partially saved by goalie Martinelli, but the ball ran out to Da Paixo Alves whose shot was unfortunately deviated by Daniel Xerri into the net.
It was 2-0 three minutes later when Kaljevic set Ljubomirac beautifully and the latter made no mistake from close in.
The closest Lija went to scoring was on 28 minutes, when a Beu angled shot hit the side rigging.
In the 45th minute, Lija appealed in vain for a penalty when a Balzan defender appeared to have handled the ball in the area. The Albanian official deemed the Balzan player was just outside the area and awarded Lija a freekick from which Aaron Sammut gave Janjusevic no chance.
In the second half, Lija moved forward more frequently.On 59 minutes, they threatened through Kei Hirose whose long range dipper was excellently saved by Janjusevic.
In the 68th minute, the Albanian official came in for some heavy booing from the few Lija fans when he surprisingly showed a yellow card to goalie Martinelli, after rushing out of his charge to head the ball away in a tackle with Balzan's De Fiori Mendes.
Lija almost scored an equaliser when after a good run by Vilfor, the ball arrived a Beu's feet, but his shot was blocked by Lepovic.
Balzan made sure of their win with a third goal on 84 minutes when Arab advanced into the Lija area and crossed low for De Fiori Mendes to score into an empty net.