BALZAN FC        0

QORMI               1

Balzan            0

Qormi            1

Balzan: D. Martinez, A. Agius (Y. Camilleri), J. Borg, J. Francica, J. Pace, B. Bondin (C. Caruana), F. Aboulezz, S. Giglio, P. Calcado, E. Da Silva, E. Moises N’Debre (R. Conceicao)

Qormi: M. Farrugia, K. Thackray, A. Effiong, M. Avila Perez (A. Cassar), M. Gauci, E. Zarate, D. Pisani, J. Bondin, C. Cassar (M. Bartolo), L. Grech (J. Chetcuti), S. Wellman

Referee: F. Zammit

Last year’s beaten finalists Qormi are still on course for a repeat appearance as they progressed to the semi-finals with a narrow but deserved win over other Premier League opponents Balzan FC. It is at this stage of the competition, with the ball bouncing your way, that the dreams of a Trophy final begin to take shape.

An early own  goal by Balzan defender Stefan Giglio decided a tepid tie but in the late stages of the second half, when the whiff of the FA Trophy filled our nostrils, Qormi created good chances that could have given them a more assuring win, endorsing their intent to progress further in the competition.

Qormi had made headlines by eliminating giants Birkirkara in the previous round and might have started as slightly the more favourite side yesterday.

Both teams were seeking some redemption in this competition after a disappointing season so far that will see them both play in the Relegation Pool.

Balzan, who needed extra time to eliminate First Division side Gzira United in the previous round, started without regulars like Mendy, Yessous Camilleri, Bjorn Bondin and Ryan Darmanin. Midfielder Dylan Grima was suspended.

But by 37 minutes, coach Ivan Zammit had already effected two substitutions and changed his game plan after falling in arrears.

Camilleri replaced Aaron Agius past the half hour and then Caruana went in for Bondin. Balzan reverted to three defenders at the back, as Francica was given a more advanced role in a flexible 3-3-1-3 formation in which the returning Calcado pushed more forward.

That yielded Balzan no dividends though as they only threatened on 39 minutes with a Calcado free kick deflected into a corner by the Balzan wall and an Elton effort blocked into a corner.  At halftime they were still trailing to Stefan Giglio’s own goal, scored after 12 minutes play as he deflected a Grech cross from the right into his own net.

Qormi had not been much impressive either although they had Alfred Effiong and Avila Perez playing in attack from the start.

Balzan still enjoyed the better share of possession in the second period but were let down by too many misplaced passes. Elton lofted the ball when served wide by Moises N’Debra. Qormi remained mostly on the defensive but looked menacing on the break. They also looked erratic in the final third with Effiong unable to exploit the gaps in Balzan’s rearguard. He shot wastefully over on Cassar’s pass on 53 minutes. On the hour Avila Perez chested the ball inside the area and as he tried to shoot, Giglio cleared the ball high, with the Balzan keeper caught off balance.

Renato Conceicao replaced N’Debre minutes later and Balzan pushed forward with a Pace powerful shot over and a Calcado meaty free kick from the edge of the area, aimed at the top corner, missing the target by inches.

In between, Qormi had the best chance to close the game. Effiong played a through ball to the advancing Grech who beat the keeper with a low drive but Francica hooved the ball away before it crossing the line.

As the match wore on, Qormi put in Chetcuti and Bartolo and looked the more likely to score. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Avila Perez was denied by a good reflex save from Balzan keeper Martinez. The Qormi forward also fluffed another good chance, when Chetcuti laid the ball in the path of the unmolested Avila Perez who shot straight on keeper Martinez.

Luckily, the final whistle found Qormi still enjoying that narrow one-goal lead.