Pieta 1
Gzira 2
(after extra time)
Pieta H.: N. Vella, T. Ose, J. Ghio, D. Agius, P. Chimezie, J. Busuttil, G. Mensah, C. Grech, U. Calistus, I. Jalo, A. Macedo
Gzira U.: J. Haber, N. Muscat (R. Briffa 109), Z. Scerri, R. Soares, A. Cohen (M. Beerman 120), J. Corbolan, E. Zarate, G. Conti, S. Borg, F. Barbosa, H. Garba
Referee: Emm. Grech
Asst refs: A. Camilleri, D. Stankovic
4th official: S. Pace
Scorers: H. Garba 114
Yellow cards: A. Cohen 29, A. Macedo 49, H. Garba 114
A Haruna Garba strike on 114 minutes enabled Gzira United to beat Pieta Hotspurs to reach the semifinals of the competition.
The match had been abandoned several weeks ago due to a hail storm at the Hibernians Stadium in the 89th minute, and that is how the match resumed yesterday.
In the few remaining seconds, Gzira had already gone close, but they dominated the extra 30 minutes and richly deserved their narrow 2-1 win.
As the match resumed, Gzira almost scored what would have been a winner when Cohen set Corbolan on the right. The latter crossed low into the Pieta area, but Haruna Garba just missed the target with an exceptional flick.
The match therefore went into extra time. And in the 94th minute, Gzira again went close to taking the lead. It was Pieta goalie Vella who denied Andrew Cohen saving his excellent freekick in style.
But that was the only action during the remaining minutes of the first extra 15 despite Gzira's total dominance.
The Maroons missed the best opportunity on 110 minutes when Cohen set the completely unmarked Corbolan in the Pieta area, but the latter's effort was totally erratic, going well over the bar.
Pieta's only effort came on the 113rd minute, a Jan Busuttil inswinger which, however, was easy prey for Haber.
A minute later, Gzira broke the deadlock when substitute Roderick Briffa crossed perfectly for Haruna Garba to beat Vella with a fine header.
It proved to be their passport into the Last Four, where they face the winner of the Hibernians-Valletta clash which will be played next Wednesday.