Birkirkara, Sliema reach AME Cup final

Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers will be contesting the final of the AME Cup on Sunday after both won the respective semi-finals on Thursday.

In the first semi-final, a brace by Joselito dos Reis gave Birkirkara a 2-0 win over Group B runners-up Mosta.

The Brazilian striker scored on 16 and 24 minutes to hand the Stripes – winners of Group A – a place in the final.

In the other semi-final, Sliema Wanderers reached the final after beating Group B winners Balzan 4-2 on penalties.

The score was 1-1 at the end of the ninety minutes as Omar Fonstad El Ghaouti put Sliema ahead nine minutes in the second half but Dylan Grima levelled matters for Balzan fifteen minutes from time.

In the penalty shoot-out, Pablo Eduardo Gonzales, Matthias Mucciardi and Diego Marcelo Ortega scored for Sliema with Elton Da Silva scoring Balzan’s only penalty. Renato Garcia Conceicao, Pedro Calcado and Dylan Grima all missed.

The final between Birkirkara and Sliema will be played on Sunday at 20:30 while Mosta face Balzan in the final for third and fourth place is scheduled at 18:30 on Sunday

The match between Hamrun Spartans and Qormi for the 7th and 8th place will be played on Saturday at 18:00 and not at 18:30 as originally scheduled. The second match between Rabat Ajax and Tarxien Rainbows, valid for fifth and sixth place will kick-off at 20:30 on Saturday.