Sliema Wanderers joined Valletta, Qormi and First Division side Gzira United in the semi-finals of the U*BET FA Trophy as two early goals gave them a 2-0 win over BOV First Division joint-leaders Pietà Hotspurs.
Sliema held the initiative right from the start but the Hotspurs, who had eliminated holders Hibernians in the previous round, still gave a good account of themselves. In the semi-finals, Sliema will be facing Qormi.
The Wanderers took the lead on the 5th minute when Mark Scerri received a through-pass inside the area, controlled the ball before hitting past goalkeeper David Cassar.
Two minutes later, Sliema went close once again with shots by Paltemio Barbetti and Trevor Cilia blocked by defenders.
Sliema doubled the score on the 14th when Stanley Ohawuchi advanced on the right before beating Cassar with a diagonal shot.
The Hotspurs then appealed for a penalty after a defender seemed to handle the ball inside the area in an attack for Pietà.
On the 28th, Kyle Cesare missed an excellent opportunity for Pietà hitting high from inside the area following an inviting pass by Kooh Sohna.
Seventeen minutes in the second half, Sliema went close with a Trevor Cilia freekick, ending just wide. On the other side of the pitch, Raphael Kooh Sohna hit just wide from the edge of the area on 79 minutes.
SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, John Mintoff (85′ Ivan Woods), Mark Scerri, Stanley Ohawuchi, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Trevor Cilia (67′ Kane Farrugia), Paltemio Barbetti, Matias Muchardi, Stefano Bianciardi, Admir Vladavic.
Subs not used: Henry Bonello, Jacob Borg, Axl Xuereb, Gabriel Aquilina, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Alfonso Greco.PIETÀ David Cassar, Terence Agius, Orosco Anonam, Cain Attard, Kyle Cesare (63′ Quilin Refalo), Christian Grech (46′ Jeremiah Ani), Raphael Kooh Sohna, Luciano Mutasi, Jurgen Pisani (74′ Matthew Borg), Ricardo Costa, Jonathan Zarate.
Subs not used: Miguel Montfort, Karl Micallef, Dylan Agius, Neil Pace Cocks.
Coach: Noel ColeiroReferee: Paul McLaughlin (IRE)
Assistant Referees: Trevor Conlan, Declan Toland (IRE)
Fourth Official: Robert Harvey (IRE)
Yellow Cards: Gatt Baldacchino, Anonam, Mintoff
Scorers: 5′ Mark Scerri, 14′ Stanley Ohawuchi
Attendance: 574