For the second year in a row, Birkirkara eliminated Hamrun Spartans from the IZIBET FA Tropny, this time defeating them 4-3 pn penalties following a 2-2 draw at the end of the ninety minutes and extra-time at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Holders Birkirkara beat Attard 3-1 and Sirens 1-0 after extra-time to reach this stage while Hamrun Spartans defeated Lija Athletic and Gudja United with an identical 3-0 score.
In the penalty shoot-out, Maxuell Maia put the Stripes ahead and Emerson Marcelina scored; Simon Zibo’s effort was parried by Marchetti and Sylla did the same on Jonny. Andrei Ciolacu converted for Birkirkara and Christian Rutjens replied for Hamrun. Neil Micallef scored for Birkirkara and Joseph Mbong levelled matters for the Spartans. Alessandro Coppola scored Birkirkara’s fourth penalty but Sylla saved Ognjen Bjelicic’s attempt.
BIRKIRKARA Marcel Zapytowski (120 Amara Sylla), Enrico Pepe, Paul Mbong (98‘ Maxuell Maia), Andrea Zammit (79’ Andrei Ciolacu), Kurt Zammit, Alex Satariano (110’ Edward Sarpong), Enmy Pena Beltre, Neil Micallef, Alessandro Coppola, Simon Zibo, Ali Diakite.
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS Federico Marchetti, Steve Borg (108’ Christian Rutjens), Luke Montebello (75’ Ryan Camenzuli), Joseph Mbong, Roko Prsa (105’ Seth Paintsil), Elionay (46’ Ederson Bruno Domingos), Uros Duranovic, Ognjen Bjelicic, Juan Corbalan, Emerson Marcelina, Jonny Robert do Nascimento.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referee: James Muscat, Duncan Spencer
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Hamrun Spartans are not unbeatable as some might think.Their ageing stars have to call it a day very soon.