Holders Birkirkara joined Sliema Wanderers, Balzan and Pembroke Athleta in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy after they defeated Floriana 2-0 in the last quarter-final at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Two goals within the first twenty-three minutes were enough for Drazen Besek’s side to proceed to the next round in their bid to win the sixth FA Trophy in the history of the club. Floriana disappointed during the first half but played better after the break although they failed to reduce the score. This defeat means that the Greens once again fail to make it to the UEFA competitions.
Birkirkara had a perfect start on the 6th minute when off a cross by Gareth Sciberras from the right, Vito Plut took advantage of Marcelina Emerson’s erratic clearance and placed the ball at the back of the net.
The Stripes doubled the score on the 23rd thanks to a Mauricio Mazzetti freekick from the right with the ball ending in the bottom right corner.
Floriana went close to reducing the gap with an Emerson Marcelina header from close range one minute in the second half off a cross from the right but Kopric neutralised his attempt.
Three minuets from time, substitute Mauricio Villa was unlucky to hit the upright with a shot from the left after a first attempt was blocked by a defender.
B’KARA Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Mauricio Matias Latini Mazzetti, Christian Bubalovic, Goran Mujanovic, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Ryan Scicluna (63′ Edmond Agius), Frank Temile (90+3′ Matthew Guillaumier), Ryan Camenzuli (80′ Kurt Zammit), Vito Plut.
Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Ryan Darmanin, Edward Herrera, Andrea Curmi.
Coach: Drazen BesekFLORIANA Matthew Calleja Cremona, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Steve Pisani, Clyde Borg, Neil Spiteri (60′ Mauricio Villa), Matteo Piciollo, Emanuel Briffa (78′ Steve Bonnici), Nicolas Chiesa, Mario Fontanella, Emerson Marcelina.
Subs not used: Matthew Grech, Conor Borg, Daniel Agius, Firas Aboulezz, Darrell Baldacchino.
Coach: Luis OliveiraReferee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Duncan Sultana
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow Cards: Scicluna, Mujanovic, Pisani, Marcelina, Chiesa, Pepe
Scorers: 6′ Vito Plut, 23′ Mauricio Mazzetti
Attendance: 1,379
Prosit Yellows…ejja ha naghlqu l istagun bil kbir!!
Well done to both teams for a good show.
A technical comment: So yesterday, B’Kara, Floriana and the match Officials would have made a double or lengthier warm up?? considering that their match start was delayed by around 40 minutes following the draw on 90 minutes between Pembroke and Pieta.