Marsaxlokk-Sliema 0-2

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, K. Sammut, C. Mamo, N. Dos Santos Gomes, S. Wellman, C. Magro, C. Nwoko (S. Bajada), J. Pace, C. Frendo, A. Schembri, W. Soares Gomes

Sliema W: M. Akanji, A. Muscat, M. Dilello, B. Said, D. Debono, N. Turner, R. Bajada (L. Grima), J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, D. Carabott, D. Bogdanovic (L. Lombardi)

Referee: L. Sammut Asst refs: I. Spiteri, K. Borg 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: M. Dilello, L. Lombardi

Yellow cards: K. Sammut, A. Muscat, J. Pace, C. Frendo, C. Magro, C. Mamo, M. Akanji

Sliema Wanderers overcame a tough challenge from Marsaxlokk to reach the semi-finals of the FA trophy but were made to sweat hard to reach their goal.

After taking the lead midway through the first half, they struggled to make their advantage tell as they had to survive Marsaxlokk’s second half onslaught, only to score their reassuring goal in added time, through their substitute Lombardi.

Marsaxlokk are entitled to feel aggrieved, having done their full share of attacking in a slow burner of a game that caught fire in the second half.

It was largely Marsaxlokk, unexpectedly, who made the chances and played the more inventive football in the second half against a Sliema defence which ran out unscathed, thanks mainly to a string of fine saves from their keeper Murphy Akanji.

To their credit, Marsaxlokk were not demoralised after going in one goal down by half-time and on a couple of occasions could have equalised.

Despite taking the field without some key players such as Giglio, Brincat and Doncic, Sliema dominated for long spells in the first half, albeit with little panache.

The Wanderers created the first chance of the match after three minutes play when Bogdanovic raced from the right on Bajada’s long pass, but his effort went narrowly wide.

Marsaxlokk tried to harass their opponents but could not thread their way past a solid defence.

The Wanderers remained the more dangerous on the breaks. Midway through the half, Woods failed to capitalise on Bogdanovic’s penetrating pass, putting his shot off target.

On 27 minutes, Sliema took the lead when Bajada’s corner from the right was headed in by central defender Mauro Dilello from close range.

Marsaxlokk looked shell-shocked and edgy in their play for the remainder of the half although Sliema failed to impose their dominance despite some territorial superiority.

On 40 minutes, Muscat headed Carabott’s dangerous free-kick tantalisingly wide.

Marsaxlokk ended the half on the offensive though. Frendo shot a freekick against the wall and then sent a deep cross from the right which Schembri headed over.

Putting in Bajada for Nwoko, Marsaxlokk showed more urgency after the restart, as they had their opponents back pedalling.

The Sliema rearguard had to deal with the towering presence of Wellman, moved into an offensive role, as well as the marauding runs of Frendo, Schembri, Pace and Bajada outside the area.

Past the hour, Soares Gomes’ shot was turned into a corner by keeper Akanji and Schembri tested the Sliema keeper with a low close-range drive.

Sliema’s play became scrappy as they had to absorb Marsaxlokk’s ever increasing pressure. The Southseasiders seemed to have ridden the tide when they were nearly caught by Sliema’s dangerous break funnelled by Bajada and Bogdanovic, but Woods concluded poorly.

On 78 minutes Soares Gomes laid a wide ball for the advancing Sammut whose shot from the right forced Akanji into another stunning save. And with five minutes of normal time remaining, Wellman nearly exploited a Sliema defensive lapse but lobbed the ball wide over the onrushing Akanji.

Marsaxlokk threw caution to the wind in the late stages, putting in another striker – Malcolm Licari.

But in added time, Sliema’s substitute Lee Lombardi, with his first touch of the ball, charged through on Woods’ pass, beating Mamo and keeper Debono in the process to dash all Marsaxlokk’s hopes and put the issue beyond doubt.