Floriana were the last team to reach the semi-final when going past Qormi on penalties yesterday following a one-all draw after extra time.

The skies cleared up and sunshine returned over Ta’ Qali for this second match in the programme, but the quality of football remained bleak.

Yet there was plenty of incident and controversy as each side had a player sent off. Qormi defender Jason Vandelanoite was dismissed soon after scoring his side’s equaliser 20 minutes from normal time. Floriana’s keeper Lofti Saidi was also given marching orders seven minutes into extra time. His substitute, Matthew Towns, saved Souza’s penalty to help Floriana progress.

The Greens were deprived of the injured Brian Said and the suspended Daniel Nwoke, going into this quarter final after beating First Division side Mosta with a Draganov goal in extra time in the previous round.

Last season’s losing finalists Qormi, who were given a bye, also had Bello-Osagie missing in attack as they again had Cleaven Frendo and Joseph Chetcuti going in as second half substitutes.

The only three noteworthy episodes of a dull first half were shrouded in controversy.

After 20 minutes, the Floriana keeper Saidi rushed on the edge of the area to intercept a long cross and looked like handling the ball with his arms outstretched outside the penalty area.

On 35 minutes a long range shot by Cassar was fisted in play by keeper Farrugia. As El Yamadi ran in for the loose ball, he was shrugged off the ball by defender Karamanolis but Floriana’s claims for a penalty were turned down.

Four minutes later, Floriana’s Egyptian striker was again bundled by Karamanolis inside the area but the referee waved play on.

Luckily, things slightly improved in the second half, which provided a better fare of excitement although play remained mostly chaotic.

On 56 minutes, Qormi went close to breaking the deadlock. Souza was gifted with a benevolent deflection off the Floriana wall on a Joseph Farrugia free kick and came face to face with keeper Saidi who blocked his effort.

The goal came two minutes later on the other side though. Substitute Joseph Borg, who had gone in for Draganov at the start of the half, took possession inside the Qormi area and drilled a low shot past the helpless keeper Matthew Farrugia.

Past the hour, Floriana again had what looked legitimate claims for a penalty turned down by the referee when El Yamani was upended by Fenech inside the Qormi area.

El Yamani headed a Cassar cross over as Floriana were beginning to mount some sustained pressure.

But on 70 minutes, Qormi levelled matters. Kang’s long range shot was turned into a corner by keeper Saidi. From Joseph Farrugia’s corner kick, Jason Vandelanoite powered his header past Saidi.

But hardly two minutes later the same Qormi defender was given marching orders for a retaliation on Woods who had fouled him.

Down to ten men, Qormi still looked the better side. Mifsud shot narrowly wide and two minutes from normal time, following a Frendo corner, Souza’s header rebounded providentially off Saidi’s chest and the teams remained tied after 90 minutes.

The match took another twist seven minutes into extra time. Saidi handled the ball outside his area and after minutes of hesitation, surrounded by both sets of players, and after consulting his assistant Mercieca, the referee showed the Floriana keeper the red card.

Keeper Matthew Towns made his debut in goal for Floriana, going in for El Yamani.

But the teams looked derailed and Floriana came up with only two efforts by Woods before going for the penalty shoot out.

The Floriana keeper Towns saved Souza’s first penalty and Woods scored Floriana’s decisive fifth one after Micallef, Doffo, Caruana and Farrugia had put all their shots on target.

Mifsud, Farrugia and Giglio scored for Qormi.

Qormi M. Farrugia, J. Vandelanoite, S. Giglio, M. Bartolo (J. Chetcuti), K. Fenech (C. Frendo), M. Mifsud, J. Farrugia, C. Karamanolis, J. Bondin, H. Kang, J. Souza

Floriana L. Saidi, T. Farrugia, D. Pisani, M. Micallef, T. Paris, I. Woods, D. Draganov (J. Borg), C. Cassar (C. Borg), C. Caruana, M. El Yamani (M. Towns), P. Doffo

Referee A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs E. Spiteri, P. Apap

4th official K. Azzopardi

Scorers J. Borg 58, J. Vandelanoite 70

Yellow cards M. Micallef, J. Souza, I. Woods, P. Doffo, S. Giglio, C. Borg

Red card J. Vandelanoite, L. Saidi