Marsaxlokk 1

Birkirkara 2

Birkirkara confirmed their present good form beating Marsaxlokk in the last quarter-final tie, to join Hamrun Spartans, Valletta and Floriana in the semis.

It was a hard fought win for the Stripes, who had to show all their character and resilience to overcome an early deficit with two second half goals.

Birkirkara were superior to their opponents in the second period, took their chances well and managed to overturn the tables.

Marsaxlokk’s football was good to watch, but failed to produce a telling finish, in the absence of their still injured striker Julio Alcorse. Their confidence drained after conceding Birkirkara’s equaliser soon after the restart and only some good goalkeeping from Rueben Debono avoided further derision.

An enterprising first half saw Marsaxlokk take an early lead with barely two minutes on the clock. On a Frendo free kick, Carlo Mamo had his first effort blocked but he scored on the second.

That meant Birkirkara were immediately facing an uphill struggle. To their credit, they were not demorilised. After seven minutes they fashioned a good attack on the left flank. Sylla outpaced Camenuli but keeper Debono rushed out to block. Mifsud Triganza passed the loose ball wide to the unmarked Tabone who shot feebly in the keeper’s hands.

Marsaxlokk scored again past the quarter hour with a Madzar header, but the goal was disallowed for the player’s offside position.

Two minutes later, Frendo ran menacingly down the right flank. His shot clipped the upright, with keeper Borg closing space.

Birkirkara increased their efforts shortly past the half hour. Debono’s spectacular save held out Tabone’s powerful free kick at the top right hand corner and on 41 minutes the Marsaxlokk custodian again foiled Sylla after going past Conceicao and Camenzuli inside the area.

With half time beckoning, Birkirkara forced a series of corners but Debono was up to task, twice denying Hartvig.

But it took Birkirkara only seven minutes into the second half to restore equilibrium. Wellman miskicked his clearance. Sylla was quick to take possession, progressed from outside the area, beating Camenzuli in the process, before rifling an unstoppable shot past the helpless Debono.

That goal sapped the wind out of Marsaxlokk’s sails as Birkirkara started to have the edge in confidence and power.

Not surprisingly the Stripes forged ahead on 70 minutes. Bajada’s pass from midfield found Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who beat Debono with a rasping low drive.

Visibly in need of reinforcements, Marsaxlokk substituted Frendo, who had been subdued to near invisibility in the second half, with Barbara and later they also put in Tellus for Wellman.

By then, Birkirkara had gone close with a Sylla effort that shaved the upright to Debono’s right.

Birkirkara had few problems stifling Marsaxlokk’s rare forays as both Sammut and Madzar strived to make an impact up front.

In fact the Stripes remained the more potent side in attack and could have scored more goals through Tabone and Mifsud Triganza. The latter fluffed another good opportunity four minutes from the end, when he ran through inside the area, only for the grounded keeper Debono to block his effort.

On the other end, keeper Borg saved Birkirkara from a dangerous situation, blocking at Sammut’s feet deep into added time, and the referee’s final whistle brought some relief as the Stripes join the last four in the competition.