Balzan won Group B following a 3-3 draw with Hamrun Spartans in one of the last two group matches of the AME Cup which is being held at the Luxol Stadium. They ended their commitments on six points together with Mosta, who defeated Tarxien Rainbows 5-1 in another match but Balzan take the top spot after winning the direct encounter with Mosta.

Therefore in Thursday’s semi-finals, Birkirkara take on Mosta while Balzan face Sliema Wanderers.

In the first game on Monday, Mosta found no difficulty in beating Tarxien Rainbows.

A brace by Jonathan Bajada on 15 and 28 minutes put Steve D’Amato’s side two goals ahead. Danial Mitev inreased the lead on 35 minutes and Manuel Eloga made it 4-0 three minutes from the end of the first half.

Danilo Moira Santos converted a penalty for the Rainbows on 67 minutes but Daniel Bogdanovic scored again for Mosta one minute from time for a final 5-1 score.

In the second match, Balzan lost 4-3 on penalties to Hamrun Spartans but the point they obtained meant that they won the group ahead of Mosta.

Renato Garcia Conceicao put Balzan ahead on 18 minutes but Gianluca Calabretta on 24 minutes levelled matters for Hamrun. Seven minutes later, Richard Brightwell made it 2-1 for the Spartans and then Angel Yoshev scored the third goal eight minutes from the end of the first half.

However Balzan reduced the gap thanks to Elton Alexander Da Silva on 61 minutes and notched the equalizer thanks to the same Brazilian striker four minutes from time.

In the penalty shoot-out, Renato Garcia Conceicao, Aaron Agius and Stefan Giglio scored for Balzan with Elton Alexander da Silva and Jamie Pace failing to score while Nikolay Bozhov, Daniel Zerafa, Reuben Degabriele and Massimo Grima all scored for Hamrun.

Bakzan and Mosta end their commitments with six points, Tarxien and Hamrun on three. Balzan won the group as the direct encounter against Mosta ended 4-2 in favour of Balzan while Tarxien take third place in the group after beating Hamrun on penalties.

Thursday 2nd August – Semi-Finals
18:30 hrs Birkirkara F.C. vs Mosta F.C.
20:30 hrs Balzan F.C. vs Sliema Wanderers

Satruday 4th August
7th/8th place : 18:30hrs : Qormi F C. vs Hamrun Spartans
5th/6th place : 20:30hrs : Rabat Ajax vs Tarxien Rainbows.