Birkirkara knock Valletta out in extra-time, Hamrun, Floriana and Hibernians make it to Meridianbet FA Trophy Semi-Finals

Photos by Josef 'Cece' Borg and Joe Borg

MERIDIANBET FA TROPHY 2024/25
QUARTER-FINALS

Hamrun Spartans FC 2-0 Sliema Wanderers FC

Hamrun Spartans FC were the first team to seal a spot in the Meridianbet FA Trophy Semi-Finals after a first-half flurry allowed them to beat the holders Sliema Wanderers FC on Wednesday.

Both teams came into the game with mixed form, with Hamrun not being at their usual best, while Sliema had suffered three consecutive defeats in the league. Despite that, both sides had produced impressive displays in the Meridianbet FA Trophy.

Hamrun’s hero on the day was Raphael Lopes Silva, with the Brazilian forward striking twice in the first-half.

His first goal came in the 15th minute, as after an excellent lobbed pass, he was through on goal, and he decided to calmly guide the ball over Sliema goalkeeper Emeka Kelvin Agu to open the scoring in fantastic fashion.

In the 27th minute, Lopes Silva got his second of the match. Cesar Alejandro Menacho Claros found space on the left-hand side, and after getting past his marker, he hit a powerful strike that hit the woodwork before Lopes Silva latched on to the rebound from close range to double Hamrun’s lead.

Sliema tried to respond, and a shot from Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong midway through the first-half went over the bar, keeping the score 2-0 going into the break.

After half-time, Sliema pressed in search of a way back into the game, testing Hamrun goalkeeper Henry Bonello on a number of occasions. One of the opportunities came in the 73rd minute, when a powerful shot from Wescley Matos Da Silva hit the bar, and the Wanderers could not tuck away the finish, with Bonello doing well to deny them a goal.

In stoppage time, Acheampong was shown two yellow cards in the space of three minutes, and was subsequently sent off.

As a result, Hamrun progressed to the next round, the first time they have made it to the Semi-Finals of the competition since the 2011/12 season.

Birkirkara FC 3-1 Valletta FC aet

Birkirkara FC had to go all the way to extra-time to knock Valletta FC out of the Meridianbet FA Trophy, after a thrilling match at the National Stadium.

Birkirkara FC 3-1 Valletta FC - 05.03.25 - Photo by Josef 'Cece' Borg

The match was very well-attended, particularly given the fierce rivalry between the two teams. Valletta came into the game as underdogs considering they were the only BOV Challenge League side still in the competition. Birkirkara had a relatively rotated line-up, particularly with captain Alexander Satariano starting on the bench due to a knock he picked up recently.

The encounter had a relatively quiet start, with both teams looking to set the pace of the match.

The first real opportunity fell to Birkirkara in the first 14 minutes, when a cross from Lecão found Maxuell Maia, yet his header was comfortably saved by Valletta goalkeeper Timothy Aquilina.

The only other real shot on goal in the first-half came right before the break, as Brandon Paiber hit a powerful free-kick from the edge of the penalty area, yet it was easily saved by goalkeeper Matthew Grech to keep the score goalless.

It all unfolded in the second-half, as Valletta grew in confidence and were more adventurous going forward. In the 63rd minute, they had a big chance to go ahead, as Jefferson Ferreira de Souza was left unmarked in the penalty area, yet his shot went narrowly wide.

The Lilywhites eventually got the opening goal five minutes later, as the Birkirkara defence failed to clear its lines after a mix-up in the penalty area. The ball fell to Ferreira De Souza, who went past his marker, before tucking the ball into the net, sparking celebrations from the Valletta faithful.

However, Birkirkara immediately responded, looking to get themselves back in the game.

In the 76th minute, they scored their equaliser thanks to Leandro Lautaro Lacunza. After some neat play down the left wing, Manuel Ignacio Morello broke free, before crossing the ball to Lacunza, who made no mistake from close range, heading it past Aquilina.

The two teams had some more opportunities in the closing stages, yet they could not find the winner, and as a result the match went to extra-time.

Birkirkara went in front in the 96th minute, after a corner fell to Alessandro Coppola at the edge of the penalty area, with the Birkirkara defender hitting a powerful strike that left Aquilina with no chance, as it sailed into the top corner.

Just four minutes later, Valletta were reduced to 10 men after Enzo Ruiz received a second yellow card, making it more of an uphill battle for the Lilywhites.

The match was sealed in the 113th minute by Paul Mbong as he found space in between the Valletta defence, before tucking the ball into the net to extend Birkirkara’s lead to two goals.

As a result, Valletta went out of the Meridianbet FA Trophy, while Birkirkara progressed to the next round, the third-consecutive season that they have made it to the Semi-Finals.

Floriana FC 2-0 Mosta FC

Floriana FC booked their place in the final four of the Meridianbet FA Trophy after a narrow 2-0 win over Mosta FC at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

Floriana FC 2-0 Mosta FC - 05.03.25 - Photo by Joe Borg

The Greens had the first opportunity of the match in the 11th minute, after a cross from the right wing found Elvis Mashike Sukisa, yet his effort was saved by Akpan David Udoh to keep the score goalless.

Mosta’s first shot on goal came midway through the first-half, as Nathan Agius tried his luck with a shot from outside of the penalty area, yet Yann-Alexandre Fillion was on hand to match the opportunity with a solid save.

Floriana went in front in the 42nd minute, after Jose Fernando Gomes Junior made a run on goal, before hitting a strike that struck the bar before finding the net, giving the Mosta goalkeeper no chance.

The Greens went into the break a goal up, and they started the second-half as strong as they finished the first, having most of the possession.

Dunstan Vella and Junior had opportunities to double Floriana’s advantage in the opening minutes of the half, yet their efforts went narrowly wide of the goal.

Floriana finally got their second goal in the 78th minute, as a powerful strike from Vella could not be kept out by Mosta defender Matthew Bolanos Garcia, and the ball went into the net, making it 2-0.

Through this result, Floriana will now be meeting Birkirkara in the Meridianbet FA Trophy Semi-Finals, setting up a tense encounter.

Hibernians FC 2-0 Naxxar Lions FC

Hibernians FC became the final team to secure a spot in the final four of the Meridianbet FA Trophy after beating Naxxar Lions FC 2-0 at the national Stadium on Thursday.

Hibernians FC 2-0 Naxxar Lions FC - 06.03.25 - Photo by Josef 'Cece' Borg

The first real opportunity of the match came in the 12th minute, resulting in Hibernians’ opening goal. Lucas Villela Iapert received the ball in space, before lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Andre Fenech to put the Paolites in front.

Hibernians continued to threaten and control the game, and in the 23rd minute uthey were presented with a chance to double their lead. Villela Iapert played in Dexter Xuereb, but he came under immense pressure from the Naxxar defence, and his effort went wide.

Following the break, it did not take Hibs long for them to make it 2-0. Hibernians capitalised on some indecision from the Naxxar backline, with some excellent link-up play between Khevin Rodrigo Fraga and Miullen Natha Felicio Carvalho. The latter fired a shot that sailed past Fenech to double Hibernians’ advantage.

Naxxar tried to get themselves back into the game in the final stages, yet they struggled to break the Hibernians defence down, and the Paolites emerged as 2-0 winners.

As a result, Hibernians will now take on Hamrun in the Semi-Finals of the Meridianbet FA Trophy, setting up an intriguing encounter.