Tarxien R. 0
Balzan 2
Tarxien R. FC: A.Cassar, J.Wemmer. J.Gill Cruz, D. Zerafa (L.Grech 80'), G. Aquilina, A. Agius (A. Nilsson 59'), S. Arab, F. De Barros Anderson, M. Tabone (M. Paolucci 75'), R. Faria, N. Jacson de Paixao
Balzan FC: S. Mintoff, A. Kosoric, S. Pisani, S. Bezzina, P. Fenech, A. Effiong (S.Cipriott 71'), U. Ljubomirac (D. Camilleri 65'), I.Bozovic, R. Correa Duarte (L. Micallef 88'), A. Majdevac
Yellow Cards : Arab, Tabone
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Asst refs: Edward Spiteri, Dusan Petrovic
4th official: Etienne Mangion
Scorers: A. Effiong 45', R. Correa Duarte 63'
Balzan reached the semi final of the Malta FA Trophy when they defeated Tarxien Rainbows by two goals to nil, scoring a goal in each half. It was a merited win for Balzan though the match never reached any high standards.
This qualification means that they can now dream of making it to the final of this competition since the draw put them on the more soft part of the draw.
Balzan had a rather drab season when they finished in a mid table position and thus missed out on gaining European football qualification. Thus their only way out was through this competition. Tarxien Rainbows placed in tenth place. In their two matches played during this campaign Balzan emerged winners on both occasion by a 3-1 and 2-0 score.
Balzan had an easy way to make it into the quarter finals of the FA Trophy after defeating Qrendi 5-1 and Xewkija Tigers 6-1.
On the other hand Tarxien eliminated two First Division sides , Vittoriosa Stars 3-0 and Zebbug Rangers 5-0.
Balzan were the first team to venture forward when on 17 minutes an Uros Ljubomirac shot ended wide. Few were the chances in the first half and in the 28th minute Balzan threatened again when Andrija Majdevac tried to round Cassar but failed to control well.
Balzan took the lead on the stroke of half time. It was Alfred Effiong who found the net when following a good solo run lobbed the ball over the Tarxien goalkeeper.
Tarxien tried to mount a reaction on the restart and were finding the going tough against a stubborn Balzan rearguard. It was only just past the hour when the Rainbows went near for the first time through a De Paixao corner which caused some havoc in the Balzan area before being cleared to safety.
A minute later Balzan responded with their second goal when it was Uros Ljubomirac who set Ricardo Correa Duarte and the latter after rounding the opposing goalkeeper placed the ball into an empty net.
Now Balzan were in cruise control and fifteen minutes from the end they could have increased their lead but Correa Duarte saw his fierce shot end inches wide.
Till the end Balzan controlled well and in added time Majdevac was unlucky when his shot close range shot hit the upright. Balzan will now hope that they end the season on a high after failing to finish in the top part of the table. European qualification is still a possibility for Jacques Scerri's boys.