Birkirkara 0
Sliema W. 1
Birkirkara: M. Kopric, C. Attard, C. Bubalovic, M. Mazzetti Latini, G. Mujanovic, G. Sciberras, M. Andelkovic, K. Zammit (R. Darmanin), F. Temile, R. Camenzuli (E. Herrera), V. Plut.
Sliema W.: E. Elezaj, A. Muscat, M. Scerri, C. Gatt Baldacchino, M. Potezica, P. Xuereb, J. Bezzina, D. Rocha dos Santos (D. Priso), G. Muir, JP Farrugia (A. Dos Santos), S. Bianciardi.
Referee: G. Tonna.
Asst refs: J. Spiteri, S. Attard.
Additional asst refs: M. Apap, M. Degabriele.
4th official: W. Debattista.
Scorers: D. Rocha dos Santos,
Yellow cards: JP Farrugia, P. Xuereb
Red cards: G. Muir.
Attendance: 1,220
Sliema Wanderers became the first finalists of this year’s FA Trophy competition when yesterday they beat favourites and holders Birkirkara 1-0 in the first semifinal.
Denni Rocha dos Santos struck near the end of the first half – a goal which landed his side in the final against either Balzan or Pembroke who meet in the other semifinal today.
It is the second time in three years that the Wanderers reached the final of the competition, which they last won in 2009.
For the Stripes it was a disappointing end to a season in which they never reached the heights of past years.
Sliema coach Alfonso Greco had a full squad at his disposal, but Birkirkara mentor Drazen Besek had to do without the suspended Joseph Zerafa, as well as Bilbao Zarate.
The match was a poor affair in the first half and it only came to life in the final moments when Sliema managed to take the lead.
Although Birkirkara must have enjoyed more possession, it was Sliema who created the best scoring opportunities, even if they never tested goalie Kopric seriously.
The Stripes never showed the form with which they had annihilated Floriana in the quarterfinals. They lacked ideas and appeared to be in difficulty to penetrate a well organised Sliema defence.
In the second half, Sliema remained in control at first and the Stripes only came back strongly in the final 20 minutes, that is, when Sliema ended in 10 men after the dismissal of Gary Muir.
Despite their wholehearted efforts, Birkirkara failed to penetrate Sliema’s amassed defence. At the end, it was the Blues who emerged on top.
Birkirkara dictated play in the opening minutes but it was Sliema who had the first attempt at goal when on 15 minutes, they were awarded a freekick just outside the area. Muir’s effort went just high over the bar.
Sliema started to play more confidently and on the 27th minute, Muir indulged in a personal move, but his final pass to the unmarked Dos Santos was excellently intercepted by Andelkovic, just outside the area.
Five minutes later, a Gareth Sciberras low shot was deviated by Peter Xuereb, but goalie Elezaj was alert and managed to save with relative ease.
Four minutes before the interval, Muir was involved in another dangerous incursion on the left flank, but his dangerous low cross was blocked to a corner by Attard.
At the other end, a minute later, following a cornerkick action, Ryan Camenzuli went close for Birkirkara with a fine dipper from the edge of the area.
Sliema broke the deadlock on the 45th minute. It was Gary Muir who set Mark Scerri. The latter crossed into the Birkirkara goal where Kopric was beaten and a Stripes defender failed to clear with the ball rolling kindly towards Rocha dos Santos who had the easiest of tasks to plant the ball into the empty net.
The second half started with a Dos Santos freekick sailing over the bar. Soon after, in a Birkirkara attack, it was goalie Elezaj who dived at substitute Ryan Darmanin’s feet to avoid an awkward situation.
In the 57th minute, Alex Muscat tried his luck from around 40 metres, but with Kopric out of position, the shot went wide.
Birkirkara replied with a Cain Attard shot being cleared from over the line by Xuereb, while soon after, as they insisted in search of an equaliser, it was Plut who tested goalie Elezaj. But the Sliema goalie saved well.
In the 66th minute, Birkirkara went closest to equalising when a Mujanovic shot from outside the area just missed the target.
Sliema lost Gary Muir in the 71st minute as he committed a second bookable offence in two minutes and was rightly dismissed by Mr Tonna.
Birkirkara now took over and launched a veritable offence on the Sliema goal. But they were rarely allowed to have a pot at goal. In the 82nd minute, Ryan Darmanin had a good effort going just wide.
In added time, Sliema had a great opportunity to put the issue beyond doubt when substitute Priso advanced unhindered but his low effort was somehow blocked by Kopric.
The final whistle was a great relief for the Sliema clan. They are now on the way to claim a major honour after seven years but this side certainly deserves a lot more support than the few scores who were at Ta’ Qali yesterday.