Birkirkara, Pembroke Athleta and Pietà Hotspurs were the last three teams to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy after eliminating Valletta, Hibernians and St. George’s in the last three fourth round matches on Wednesday. Birkirkara, Pembroke and Pietà, therefore join Balzan, Tarxien Rainbows, Sliema Wanderers, Floriana and St. Andrews in the next stage with the Hotspurs being the only non-Premier League side to make it to the quarter-finals.

Therefore two of the heavyweights – Valletta and Hibernians – are out of the competition.

The biggest surprise of the day was the elimination of last season’s finalists Hibernians who lost 1-2 to Pembroke Athleta at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Pembroke, who had eliminated San Gwann 3-0, took a two-goal lead and although Hibs, who defeated Mosta in the previous round, reduced the gap, they had a second player sent off to make matters worse.

Ariel Laudisi put Pembroke ahead on the 8th minute. On the 22nd, Andrei Agius handled the ball on the goal line following a shot by Villalobos, referee Marco Borg gave the Hibs defender marching orders and Ariel Laudisi doubled the score from the penalty spot. Clayton Failla reduced the gap on the 66th minute when he converted a penalty.

On the 72nd minute, Hibs were reduced to nine men after Marcelo Dias was sent off for hitting Gustavo Villalobos. Six minutes from time, Paltemio Barbetti picked his second yellow card and was therefore sent off for Pembroke.

PEMBROKE Mario Muscat, Miguel Attard, Alex Cini, Owen Bugeja, Paltemio Barbetti, Manolito Micallef (82′ Terence Agius), Kyle O’Brien, Siraj Arab Eddin (72′ Gustavo de Paulo Da Nobrega), Ariel Laudisi (90′ James Togbah), Patmore Shereni, Gustavo Villalobos.
Coach: Winston Muscat

HIBS Rudy Briffa, Marcelo Dias, Andrei Agius, Jonathan Pearson (64′ Denni Rocha dos Santos), Rodolfo Soares, Clayton Failla, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Jurgen Degabriele (75′ Joseph Mbong), Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen, Jorge Santos Silva.
Coach: Branko Nisevic

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: William Debattista,Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Attendance at Victor Tedesco Stadium: 469

A goal by Ryan Camenzuli on the 63rd minute gave holders Birkirkara a narrow win over rivals Valletta at the National Stadium.

In the third round, Birkirkara had defeated Second Division side Kirkop United 6-0 while Valletta eliminated Gozitan champions Xewkija Tigers with a 3-1 score.

Deep into stoppage time, Joseph Zerafa was sent off for Birkirkara.

B’KARA Miroslav Kopric, Goran Mujanovic, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa, Garreth Sciberras, Edmond Agius, Mislav Andelkovic, Edison Bilbao Zarate (90+4′ Kurt Zammit), Frank Temile (90+4′ Matthew Guillaumier), Ryan Camenzuli.
Coach: Drazen Besek

VALLETTA Nicky Vella, Jonathan Caruana, Ryan Camilleri (82′ Jan Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Juan Gill Cruz, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Llywelyn Cremona (71′ Michael Mifsud), Claudio Pani, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao, Abdelkarim Nafti (13′ Uchenna Calistus Umeh), Romeu Pericles Romao.
Coach: Paul Zammit

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri

At the Centenary Stadium, Pietà Hotspurs defeated St. George’s 3-2 in a clash between two First Division sides.

Christian Grech converted a penalty to put the Hotspurs ahead on the 12th minute and Randell Harrevelt doubled the score on the 23rd. An own goal by Jason Gorskie four minutes later gave St. George’s hope but Dylon Agius made it 3-1 on the 38th. One minute from half-time, Dylan Sammut reduced the gap for the Cospicua side.

Eight minutes in the second half, Dylon Agius was sent off for the Hotspurs.

PIETÀ Jacob Chircop St John, Karl Micallef, Travis Bartolo, Neil Pace Cocks, Dylon Agius, Wail Rizgalla (70′ Christian Degabriele), Kyle Cesare (64′ Mead Mifsud), Randell Harrevelt, Jason Gorskie, Christian Grech, James Scicluna (84′ Jan Busuttil).
Coach: Patrick Curmi

ST. GEORGE’S Claude Carbonaro, Luke Grech, Neil Falzon, Benjamin Ayuba Dalato, Abdul Razak Mendy (81′ Lydon Vella), Cristian Fernando Toro, Emerson Amaira (55′ Carmelo Farrugia), Udo Nwoko (74′ Kenneth Abela), Dylan Sammut, Simon Aquilina, Malcolm Mamo.
Coach: Antoine Camilleri

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Etienne Mangion, Alan Camilleri