FA Trophy: Valletta 3 Birkirkara 1

Valletta booked a place in the final of the Meridianbet FA Trophy after defeating Birkirkara 3-1.

In the final, the Citizens will be facing Gżira United who eliminated Naxxar Lions in the other semi-final.

Following a quiet start, the match came to life towards the end of the first half with Valletta scoring two quick-fire goals to take a two-goal lead. The Citizens remained in control but a penalty for Birkirkara mid-way through the second half put them back in contention before Valletta sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal.

After a quite disappointing 30 minutes during which the two goalkeepers were not tested, Leandro Lacunza had a powerful shot from outside the area blocked by Valletta goalkeeper Adilson Maringa on 31 minutes following a short clearance by a defender.

Valletta replied with a good move on 39 minutes when Andrea Zammit intercepted an erratic clearance by Morello and despite being surrounded by three defenders, served Diogo Tavares from whose cross from the left, Thaylor’s first time effort from close range was blocked into a corner.

One minute later, Valletta managed to take the lead. From a corner, Brandon Paiber exchanged the ball with Yuri before delivering a cross from the right and Andrea Zammit headed home past goalkeeper Martinez.

The Citizens took just over a minute to double the score. Yannick Yankam served Yuri Messias who pulled to a more central position, before beating the Birkirkara custodian with a shot from the edge of the area.

In the second half, Valletta were brimming with confidence and Andrea Zammit concluded a good run on the right with a cross which was parried by Martinez on 50 minutes.

Three minutes later, the Spanish goalkeeper palmed out a Yuri corner from the left and then turned into a corner a Yankam effort from outside the area on 56 minutes.

The Citizens maintained the pressure and a Diogo Tavares rising shot was tipped into a corner by Martinez on 59 minutes.

However on 70 minutes, Birkirkara reduced the gap. Referee Fyodor Zammit awarded a penalty after Jake Azzopardi was adjudged to have fouled Lucas Macula inside the area after reviewing the incident on the FVS and substitute Jere Vrcic converted from the penalty spot.

Macula had a close range header saved by Adilson Maringa following a cross by Lacunza from the right on 76 minutes but Yuri Messias had a powerful shot turned into a corner by Martinez two minutes later.

With three minutes to go, Jackson Mendoza had a cross intercepted by Martinez and on 89 minutes, the Birkirkara goalkeeper performed a good save on a Yankam corner from the left.

Deep in stoppage time, Valletta made sure of the win through captain Brandon Paiber who scored his team’s third goal.

Source: times of Malta

Photo credits: D. Borg

VALLETTA: A. Maringa; S. Borg, A. Zammit (76 S. Meijer), B. Paiber, J. Azzopardi, D. Tavares (87 M. Ellul), Y. Yankam, M. Mbende, Y. Messias (79 J. Mendoza), S. Radic, T. Aldama

BIRKIRKARA: M. Martinez; F. Lopez, M. Morello, S. Dimech (60 J. Busuttil), L. Macula, L. Lacunza (86 L. Lacunza), N. Micallef, A. Coppola, G. Acheampong, A. Garzia (60 K. Reid), J. Bayo (60 J. Vrcic)

Scorers: 40’ A. Zammit, 42’ Y. Messias, 90’ B. Paiber (V), 70’ J. Vrcic (B)

Yellow cards: Y. Yankam (V), G. Acheampong (B)

Referee: F. Zammit

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