Sliema W.-Birkirkara 0-0
(aet – Birkirkara win 5-4 on penalties)
Sliema: M. Akanji, J. Brincat (A. Muscat), B. Said, D. Debono, N. Turner, C. Mattocks, D. Doncic, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, L. Pernis (O. Anonam), S. Giglio.
Birkirkara: J. Haber, M. Bonnici, L. Galea, P. Monye, R. Sammut (K. Scicluna), W. Camenzuli, H. Doda, M. Galea, C. Nwoko (E. Barbara), L. Dronca, G. Mallia (R. Briffa).
Referee: C. Lautier. Assistant referees: P. Agius and C. Micallef.
Fourth official: M. Borg.
Yellow cards: D. Debono, L. Dronca, D. Doncic.
Red card: R. Briffa
Birkirkara captain Michael Galea kept his cool to score the decisive penalty and earn his side a place in the trophy final.
It was billed as the clash of the titans and the match lived up to all expectations as Sliema and Birkirkara did not disappoint one of the largest crowds of the season. Despite 120 minutes and no goals, both sides produced a fine display of good football and in the end no team merited to be on the losing end though one may say that Birkirkara had the better chances throughout the match.
Birkirkara were undoubtedly the slightly better team in the first 80 minutes of the match though Sliema could have won the match in the dying seconds had it not been for a superb save by Haber.
And in injury time, the Wanderers played better even though Birkirkara continued to have the better chances. Sliema did not capitalise on the fact that Birkirkara were reduced to 10 men in the last six minutes of injury time though by now, both sides were very tired.
The Stripes controlled midfield and in defence were superb for 80 minutes with Sammut, Camenzuli and Dronca closing all avenues and with Galea and Bonnici on the flanks constantly moving up front.
Sliema coach Edward Aquilina opted to field a full strength side with Noel Turner playing on the right flank in defence as his place in midfield was taken by the returning Joe Brincat. However, in the second half, he made a slight tactical switch moving Turner to midfield with Debono moving to the right when Doda roamed on that flank.
On the other hand, Stephen Azzopardi opted to start with Michael Galea, Chucks Nwoko and Haruna Doda in attack and the three constantly changed position as they tried to carve openings in the Sliema defence. Etienne Barbara, who had scored two goals against Valletta started the match on the reserves bench.
In this regard, Sliema’s defence was very strong despite some anxious moments with Chetcuti, Said and Debono keeping Birkirkara at bay and with Akanji effecting some good saves.
Birkirkara’s first attempt in attack was a difficult first-time shot by Michael Galea from outside the area which went wide after just three minutes. Two minutes later, Haber was called into action and he literally had to remove the ball from Doncic’s feet before the Sliema midfielder could pounce on the ball.
Birkirkara went very close to taking the lead in the 20th minute. Galea took a very dangerous corner which created a scramble in front of goal but Sammut from an ideal position hit over the bar.
Soon after Doda entered the area perilously and hit a diagonal shot which inched just wide.
Birkirkara were the more dangerous side and in the 37th minute Doda entered the area and from an angle passed to Galea but the latter could not hit home as he was blocked by Chetcuti.
Two minutes from half time a Michael Galea freekick inched just wide with Doda just missing what could have been a decisive deflection.
On the changeover, in a very fast counter attack, Birkirkara could have been one up. Doda rounded Chetcuti and Akanji but lost balance and Debono cleared the danger.
At the other end, Woods beat Sammut and passed to Pernis. The latter entered the area but his effort hit the side netting.
Akanji brought the house down in the 76th minute when he made a splendid save off a Lino Galea shot from close range after some fine work by Barbara and Michael Galea.
William Camenzuli nearly surprised Akanji in the 84th minute with a long distance freekick. The Sliema goalkeeper was late on the ball but the ball thumped against the post.
In the final seconds of the match, Haber saved the day for Birkirkara when he made a superb save as he stretched full length to turn the ball to corner off a very dangerous Giglio header. It was the best chance of the match for Sliema.
The match moved to extra time and Sliema took off to a good start. Off a Giglio cross, Anonam headed just over the bar.
A combination by Galea and Barbara ended with the latter hitting wide when it might have been better to return the ball back to Galea.
Giglio then hit a long range powerful shot which Haber tipped to corner in the 100th minute.
In added time of the first half, a Michael Galea header off a Camenzuli freekick was saved by Akanji on the goal-line.
On the change of ends a Michael Galea scissors kick deserved better, his effort again being saved by Akanji.
Birkirkara were reduced to ten men when Roderick Briffa was sent off for an early bath after kicking Alex Muscat off the ball in the 126th minute.
And in a last gasp chance, a Galea header was headed by Scicluna who anticipated Akanji but the ball inched just wide.
The match had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out given the balanced encounter. Turner, Giglio, Chetcuti and Woods scored for Sliema while Anonam’s shot was saved by Haber. On the other hand, Birkirkara’s penalties were scored by Dronca, Camenzuli, Doda and L. Galea. Bonnici’s final penalty was saved by Akanji. Mattocks took the sixth penalty but hit well over the bar. Galea then placed the ball sending Akanji the wrong end to the joy of the numerous Birkirkara fans.