BALZAN...................3

PEMBROKE A...........1

Balzan: I. Janjusevic, J. Grioli, C. Brincat, E. Serrano, S. Bezzina, P. Fenech, D. Grima (L. Sciberras 45’), A. da Silva Souza (M. Focsa 106’), A. Effiong, A. Vujacic (P. dos Santos Calcado 19’), B. Kaljevic

Pembroke: M. Muscat, A. Cini, Z. Levnaic, O. Bugeja (O. Obiefule 82’), M. Attard, P. Barbetti, K. O’Brien, G. Villalobos, M. Micallef, S. Eddin Arab (T. Agius 72’) (L. Grech 90’), A. Laudisi

Yellow Cards: P. Fenech 32’, A. Effiong 32’, J. Grioli 68’, E. Serrano 94’ (B), A. Cini 63’, P. Barbetti 65’, M. Micallef 111’ (P)

Scorers: A. Laudisi 34’ (P), A. da Silva Souza 80’, B. Kaljevic 98’, P. dos Santos Calcado 119’ pen (B)

Referee:Philip Farrugia

Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Chris Francalanza

Additional Assistant Referees:Marco Borg, Stefan Pace

Attendance: 480

After a hard fought quarter and semifinal, Balzan have arrived to their first F.A Trophy final as they defeated Pembroke Athleta 3-1 after extra time. They will meet next Saturday against Sliema in an effort to win their first major trophy of their history.

Overall, Balzan were the better team as they had more chances and dictated play for most of the game. Pembroke on the other side had a very positive season as they retained their status and arrived for the first time in the semifinal. In the game, they were more cautious and operated more with counter-attacks. All the team had a good game but credit has to go particularly for the 39 year old Mario Muscat who had a splendid game in goal.

In the initial minutes, played was balanced but despite that Balzan looked more on the attacking side, it was Pembroke who created the first action to note when from a corner by Mano Micallef, Zoran Levnaic met the ball but his header finished off target. Balzan replied few seconds later as Effiong tried with a shot that finished well over the bar.

Coach Oliver Spiteri had to make his first change as he replaced Calcado with Vujacic. Their initative didn’t turn into scoring opportunities and it was only on the 32nd minute that they had a slight chance after a personal action by Alan da Silva Souza that was cleared in time for a corner.

Two minutes later, Pembroke took the lead. A pass by Villalobos caught off guard the Balzan defence as Ariel Laudisi entered in the space and beat Janjusevic with a low first-time drive. Balzan’s reaction in the first half didn’t came and it was Pembroke who could have doubled just before the half time when Alex Cini crossed from the right to Gustavo Villalobos who tried with a low shot but Janjusevic was ready to turn the shot into a corner. Exactly before the half time Balzan had to make another substitution as Luke Sciberras replaced Dylan Grima.

Balzan started the second half better and created their first action on the hour mark when Bojan Kaljevic had a good chance but wasted an opportunity from a good position but fired wide. Five minutes later Pedro dos Santos Calcado tried with a free-kick that finished off target.

Pembroke’s response came on the 69th minute in a similar action of the first half when from a Micallef corner, it was again Levnaic but for the second time his header didn’t trouble Janjusevic. Six minutes later, Barbetti tried with a free-kick from almost the corner flag but his effort in goal was punched by Janjusevic.

Balzan went close to equalise on the 77th minute with a shot from distance by Alan da Silva Souza that rattled the crossbar. A minute later Paul Fenech tried with a powerful shot on Muscat’s right corner but the Pembroke goalkeeper tipped into a corner.

The goal had been knocking on the door and it came on the 80th minute, when a free-kick by Calcado was saved by a miracle by Mario Muscat but from the rebound Alan da Silva Souza fired in the net. This goal gave more stimulus to Balzan who could have scored the winning goal three minutes but Muscat was ready to block the cross from Kaljevic as the game went into extra time.

Balzan enforced their efforts in extra time as Pembroke continued to defend. Their first action came after two minutes as Calcado passed to Paul Fenech who tried with a first-time shot that gave only the illusion of the goal as the effort finished over the bar. Another occasion for Balzan on the 97th minute when Bezzina crossed to Effiong who laid back with a header to Grioli but his shot finished well over the bar.

But Balzan took the lead few seconds later. Fenech passed to Effiong. He crossed from the right in the direction of Bojan Kaljevic who lobbed with a header over Mario Muscat. Exactly before the half time, Calcado tried again with a powerful shot from outside the box but Muscat saved again.

The game stayed on the same wave length and Balzan had a great opportunity 38 seconds into the second half. Bojan Kaljevic came face to face with Mario Muscat after a good long ball but the veteran goalkeeper stayed on his foot till the last second and saved the low shot. Two minutes later, it was Effiong’s turn to try his luck with a personal action but his shot finished wide.

Pembroke tried on the 115th minute with a shot from outside the box by Villalobos that finished inches wide. Balzan ended Pembroke’s hope a minute before the end when Effiong was fouled in the penalty area by Miguel Attard. From the penalty spot Pedro dos Santos Calcado sent Mario Muscat the wrong way.