Local football rivals Valletta and Birkirkara, last season’s champions and Trophy winners respectively, will be battling for a place in this season’s final next 30 May when they face each other this afternoon in the first semi-final.
The other semi-final, between Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk, is to be played tomorrow.
Today’s match is a repeat of last year’s semi-final when Birkirkara demolished the champions 4-2, earning a place in the final where they beat Hamrun 2-1 to claim their berth in the UEFA Cup.
This season, the winner of the competition will be assured of a place in the new Europa League (substituting the UEFA Cup) and although both teams are still in contention for the title, especially Valletta, they are both expected to go all out to reach the final, at least.
It should be a keen clash between these two great sporting rivals. Valletta have won the Trophy 11 times, the last in 2001 while Birkirkara have won it on four occasions, their last success being that of last season.
In the quarter-finals, Birkirkara beat Tarxien Rainbows 2-1 while Valletta, on the other hand, just made it to this stage. After a 1-1 draw with Floriana (scoring an equaliser in the final seconds of added time), they beat the Greens 4-1 on penalties.
This afternoon, Valletta are coming from a splendid run of 18 undefeated league matches, where they have shown consistency despite their failure to show any convincing form.
The citizens are a strong outfit with the defence being their main weapon.
Their opponents, Birkirkara, are coming from two reverses in the league – 3-2 defeats at the hands of Marsaxlokk and Hibernians. The loss of all those six points have kept the side a distant five points from the leaders when the Championship Pool gets under way.
In today’s encounter, Valletta coach Paul Zammit will have to do without midfielder Edmond Agius, while John Buttigieg of Birkirkara will have Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza unavailable. Both players are suspended.
If the match ends in a draw, 30 minutes extra time will be played. If the result remains a draw, the winner will be decided by the taking of penalties.