Mosta 1
Birkirkara 2
Mosta: S. Moto, JR Ekani (K. Zammit 86), G. Cuomo (K. Frendo 77), J. Brincat (A. Vella 65), D. Bonnici, D. Xuereb, R. Morisco, T. Farrugia, AG Roach, D. Imeri, B. Jnohope
Birkirkara: A. Hogg, M. Vella (K. Zammit 85), J. Bezzina, C. Failla, E. Ferreira, N. Vukanac, M. Mifsud, C. Attard, T. Agius, T. De Souza (L. Montebello 72), J. Pereira (D. Chapoval 82)
Referee: P. Farrugia
Asst refs: P. Apap, T. Debono
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: M. Mifsud 39, A. Roach 52, B. Jnohope 74
Yellow cards: D. Imeri 90
Red cards: S. Moto 63
Attendance: 504
Birkirkara joined Gzira and Balzan in the semifinals after beating 10-man Mosta 2-1.
The Stripes took the lead through veteran Michael Mifsud in the first half and Mosta equalised through Akeem Roach, before a Jnohope own goal sealed the issue in favour of Birkirkara.
Birkirkara therefore took sweet revenge over their opponents who had beaten them by the same score a few weeks ago in the league.
In the semifinals, Birkirkara will be facing neighbours Balzan who had beaten Tarxien 2-0 earlier in the evening.
The first half was a balanced affair, but Mosta seemed to have had the better chances in their frequent counter-attacks.
However, they were found wanting in their conclusions and only on one occasion did they threaten seriously when they were unlucky with a Xuereb effort that hit the upright.
At the other end, Birkirkara were an unsettled outfit as they also failed to test Moto in the Mosta goal till the final 10 minutes when they created three good chances from one of which they took the lead.
In the second half, the Stripes started like a house on fire creating two good chances, but it was Mosta who equalised.
The Blues then had Moto sent off for a professional foul and from then on, Birkirkara scored what proved to be the winner soon after through that own goal and went on to defend their lead quite comfortably, missing more easy chances near the end.
The Stripes threatened in the 3rd minute when De Souza set Michael Mifsud in the Mosta area, but the latter's angled shot was blocked by Mosta goalie Stephane Moto.
Mosta replied on 10 minutes through a strong Rafael Morisco freekick which was punched out by goalie Andrew Hogg.
After a Pereira shot on the turn went wide, it was Mosta who went very close to take the lead on the 18th minute, when James Brincat set Dexter Xuereb in the Birkirkara area, but with only Hogg to beat, he saw his effort hitting the upright and going dead.
On 24 minutes, from a James Brincat corner, a melee ensued in front of the Stripes goal with two shots being blocked. When the ball was finally cleared, Michael Mifsud ran towards the Mosta goal, but his final shot went well wide of the target.
In the 38th minute the Stripes went close to open the scoring through Johan Bezzina who bustled his way to the edge of the Mosta area, only to see his effort just missing the target.
A minute later, Birkirkara took the lead when Mifsud received the ball in the area and beat Moto with an unstoppable shot.
Soon after they again threatened seriously when a Mifsud cross found Jorge Pereira arriving a second too late to connect in front of goal.
Just before the interval, Bezzina tested goalie Moto again, but the Mosta goalie dived sidweways to turn to corner.
The start of the second half saw Assistant Referee Mario Apap taking over from Philip Farrugia who appeared to have suffered an injury.
In the 47th minute, Birkirkara almost doubled the score on two occasions. First Bezzina went past a defender only to see goalie Moto blocking his effort. Soon after, from a Pereira cross, Mifsud hit wide with an open goal at his mercy.
In the 52nd minute, Mifsud had a lob over the onrushing Moto going wide, but at the other end, immediately after, Mosta equalised.
It was Ekani who set Akeem Roach and the latter went round Hogg to place the ball into the empty net.
In the 59th minute a Failla long distance shot was turned to corner with some difficulty by Moto.
In the 63rd minute, Pereira was through on a defensive clearance, but Moto rushed out of the area and floored the Birkirkara striker. Referee Mario Apap showed no hesitation in showing the Mosta goalie the red card for the 'professional foul'. Andreas Vella took his place in the Mosta goal, replacing James Brincat.
Birkirkara regained the lead in the 74th minute. A Michael Mifsud cross seemed to have hit Mosta's Jnohope and went in via the upright.
In the 89th minute, substitute Kurt Zammit should have put Birkirkara's minds at rest, but he lifted the ball well over the bar from an ideal position.
In added time, in swift counter-attacks, it was Michael Mifsud who went through twice only to hit wide on both occasions.