Meridianbet FA Trophy Quarter-Finals Review: Valletta, Birkirkara, Gzira and Naxxar seal route to semis

Valletta FC 3-1 Hamrun Spartans FC - 04.03.2026 - Photos by Owen Damato - Malta FA

Meridianbet FA Trophy 2025/26
QUARTER-FINALS

Valletta 3-1 Hamrun Spartans
(after extra time)
Last night, Valletta set up a clash with Birkirkara in the semi-finals of the Meridianbet FA Trophy after defeating Hamrun Spartans 3-1 after extra time at the National Stadium.

Following a goalless first half, Valletta managed to take the lead but the Spartans equalised a few minutes later. The game went into extra-time with Valletta scored twice in the second half of extra-time to move on to the next stage.

The Citizens threatened with a Jake Azzopardi effort from outside the area which ended just over the bar after just two minutes. Hamrun replied with a good move between Joseph Mbong, Blessing Eleke and Shaisen Attard with the winger hitting just wide.

However, on 18 minutes, Valletta went close once again.  Yannick Yankam intercepted a pass by Rafael Compri but Henry Bonello blocked, Yuri Messias had a low shot blocked by Marcelina and Mattias Ellul served Andrea Zammit who hit just wide from inside the area.

The Spartans appeared to have taken the lead on 24 minutes when goalkeeper Adilson Maringa failed to hold a Matthew Guillaumier effort and Mbong served Blessing Eleke who placed the ball at the back of the net but the goal was disallowed after FVS check for a foul of Mbong on Mbende.

One minute from the end of the first half, Attard tested Maringa with an angled shot from the right and in added time, Mbong had a shot from outside the area ending just over the bar.

Valletta managed to take the lead on the hour when following Diogo Tavares exchanged the ball with Andrea Zammit before anticipating Bonello and serving Yannick Yankam who headed home from close range.

Coach Giacomo Modica opted for three substitutions on 66 minutes, including Jonny, Mouad El Fanis and Michele Carboni, and less than a minute later, the Spartans equalised. Steve Borg lost possession to Jonny on the left and the latter served Mouad El Fanis who moved to the edge of the area before hitting low in the bottom right corner behind Adilson Maringa.

Jonny tested the Valletta goalkeeper with a conclusion from the left on 78 minutes and seven minutes later, El Fanis, served by Mbong, hit wide from the edge of the area.

Eight minutes in the first half of extra time, Mbong missed a good opportunity for the Spartans, hitting high from inside the area when served by Carboni. 

Valletta regained the lead 10 minutes in the second half of extra time when off a cross by Jake Azzopardi, Diogo Tavares served Stijn Meijer who slotted past Bonello from close range.

With the Spartans all out in search of the equaliser, the Citizens added another as Brandon Paiber concluded a solo run on the left flank by entering the area and slotting the ball past Bonello.

Valletta FC 3-1 Hamrun Spartans FC - 04.03.2026 - Photo by Owen Damato - Malta FA

Gzira United 2-1 Mosta
On Tuesday night, Gzira United became the first side to book their place in the semi-finals after edging past Mosta in a tightly contested encounter at the Centenary Stadium. The match swung back and forth, with both teams enjoying spells of dominance, but the Maroons ultimately proved the more clinical in front of goal.

Following a cautious and evenly balanced opening, Gzira broke the deadlock on 17 minutes with a well-worked move. André Carlos surged forward down the left before finding Johan Bonilla, who quickly laid the ball off to Brooklyn Borg on the right. Borg produced a precise curling effort from a tight angle that nestled neatly into the net.

Mosta attempted to respond and came close on 28 minutes when Leo Fernandes delivered a cross into the area, but the unmarked Nevin Portelli directed his effort straight into the hands of goalkeeper Eduardo Colombo at the far post. Eight minutes later, Colombo’s opposite number Anse Ngoubi Demba was called into action, doing well to tip away a swerving long-range strike from Luis Riascos. As the first half ended, Mosta nearly found an equaliser when Giancarlo Goncalves fired narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

After the restart, Gzira initially allowed Mosta to dictate the tempo, and the Blues came within inches of scoring on 52 minutes when Goncalves’ powerful 20-meter effort struck the upright before being cleared by the Gzira defence. Two minutes later, however, Goncalves made no mistake, sending a superb free kick into the top corner beyond the reach of Colombo to bring Mosta level.

Parity lasted only moments. Gzira responded immediately with a goal of equal quality as Andrew Borg unleashed a thunderous strike from well outside the area that also found the top corner, restoring the Maroons’ lead.

Buoyed by the goal, Gzira pushed Mosta back and searched for a third to secure the result. Yet it was Mosta who threatened next, with Colombo producing an excellent save on 82 minutes to deny Prince Emmanuel.

The closing stages were frantic as Mosta threw numbers forward in search of another equaliser. Gzira, who won the Trophy in 1973, looked dangerous on the counter, with Stasa Bastic and Andrew Borg both coming close to extending the lead but failing to hit the target from promising positions. In stoppage time, during a final Mosta assault, Mihajlo Stojanovic cleared dramatically off the goal line, preventing what could have been a decisive equaliser and forcing the match into extra time.

Birkirkara 2-1 Zabbar St Patrick
Birkirkara secured their place in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night, overcoming Zabbar St Patrick 2-1 at the Centenary Stadium despite playing with 10 men for an hour.
Donovan Makoma’s first-half dismissal initially appeared to tilt the balance in favour of the Saints, who took the lead early in the second half. However, Birkirkara produced a spirited response, scoring twice after the break to overturn the deficit and eliminate their opponents.

The opening half offered few clear chances, with both sides struggling to impose themselves in a cautious contest. Birkirkara threatened first after 10 minutes when Kemar Reid’s close-range effort forced Saints goalkeeper Ignacio Colombo into a difficult save, conceding a corner. The Saints replied on 17 minutes with a Vinicius de Paiva free kick from around 20 metres that drifted narrowly wide.

The match took a decisive turn shortly after the half-hour mark when referee Ezekiel Barbara was called to review an off-the-ball incident on the FVS system. After consulting the footage, he dismissed Birkirkara’s Makoma, leaving the Stripes to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.

Zabbar capitalised early in the second half and went ahead nine minutes after the restart. Left-back Vinicius de Paiva unleashed a superb long-range strike from around 20 metres that flew into the top corner beyond Miguel Ángel Martínez.

Their advantage, however, lasted only a short while. On 62 minutes, Birkirkara levelled the score when Lucas Ribeiro broke into the left side of the area and lifted the ball over the advancing Colombo, allowing Kemar Reid to finish from close range.

The Stripes completed the turnaround eight minutes later. A Geoffrey Acheampong free kick found the unmarked Lucas Ribeiro inside the area, and the Brazilian calmly finished to put Birkirkara ahead, sparking wild celebrations among the Stripes supporters.

The team of coach Gilbert Agius pushed forward in search of an equaliser during the closing stages but struggled to seriously test Martínez. Zean Leonardi sent an early effort off target before later directing a shot straight at the Birkirkara goalkeeper following a move initiated by Bruno Figueiredo with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

Despite the late pressure, Birkirkara held firm to seal a hard-fought victory and advance to the semi-finals.

Zurrieq 1-2 Naxxar Lions
(after extra time)
Naxxar Lions became the final team to secure a place in the FA Trophy semi-finals on last night, but only after requiring extra time to overcome a determined Zurrieq side at the Centenary Stadium. It will be only the third time that Naxxar is playing in the Semis of this competition, the first two being a while ago, in 1946 and 1947.

The Lions dominated possession for long stretches of the match but struggled to break down a disciplined Zurrieq defence. The Challenge League side — the last remaining team from the second tier and FA Trophy winners in 1985 — gradually grew in confidence as the match progressed, pushing their top-flight opponents all the way.

Naxxar threatened early, with Costa attempting an overhead kick before the Lions took the lead after just seven minutes. Vinicius Baiano struck an angled long-range effort that caught Zurrieq goalkeeper Jurgen Borg off guard and found the back of the net.

Borg was soon called into action again, producing a fine block on a close-range effort from Louis Pahama on 26 minutes after a well-worked attacking move by the Lions down the left flank. Shortly afterwards, he delivered another excellent save, turning Vitinho’s shot from the edge of the area behind for a corner.

After weathering the early pressure, Zurrieq began to settle and showed greater ambition going forward, earning several corners as they searched for a way back into the match. However, Naxxar maintained their slender 1-0 lead at the interval.

Following the restart, the Lions continued to dictate play against a compact Zurrieq defence but found it difficult to carve out clear scoring opportunities. Just before the hour mark, Borg once again proved decisive, producing another strong block to deny Pahama from close range.

With Naxxar unable to extend their lead, Zurrieq continued to believe in an upset and were rewarded on 74 minutes when Wyatt Harding finished off a swift counterattack to draw the sides level and inject fresh momentum into the southern outfit.

Zurrieq enjoyed a positive spell after the equaliser, seeing more of the ball as Naxxar appeared briefly unsettled. The Lions responded late on, with Daniel Letherby coming close on 86 minutes, his low drive turned behind for a corner by the alert Borg. Neither side managed to find a winner in normal time, sending the match into extra time.

Early in the additional period, Zurrieq were fortunate to escape when João Pedro Iseppe headed against the crossbar from a corner. Borg was again called into action on 102 minutes, saving an on-target effort from substitute Yeangel Montero to keep the scores level.

The decisive moment arrived on 114 minutes when Naxxar were awarded a penalty after Anderson De Barros brought down Vinicius Baiano inside the area. The decision was contested by the Zurrieq bench but confirmed following a FVS review. Vitinho stepped up and confidently converted from the spot to restore the Lions’ lead.

Zurrieq attempted one final response, but Naxxar goalkeeper Matthias Debono produced a late save to deny Sebastian Grech, ensuring the Lions progressed to the semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory after extra time.