Competitions
Birkirkara and Hibernians get wins to set up intriguing Meridianbet FA Trophy Final
Published: 15-05-2025 11:04
MERIDIANBET FA TROPHY
SEMI-FINALS
Birkirkara FC 2-1 Floriana FC
In the Wednesday night early kick-off, Birkirkara earned themselves a place in the 2024/25 Meridianbet FA Trophy Final by beating Floriana 2-1 in the first Semi-Final. The Yellows scored a goal in each half and looked to cruise comfortably towards the end, until Floriana pulled one back 10 minutes before the end of regular time, yet they still had a big ask to overcome the Birkirkara defence.
Floriana, who reached the Semi-Final by shaking off the resistance of Xewkija Tigers, Victoria Hotspurs and Mosta in the previous rounds, came close to breaking the deadlock on 10 minutes when Aleandro Garzia served Franklin Sasere from the right flank, but the Nigerian’s header sailed wide.
On 25 minutes, Birkirkara were the ones who opened the scoring when Leandro Lacunza crossed from the right towards Maxuell Samurai who headed to the unmarked Pablo Gaitan with the nippy Argentinian blasting home from the edge of the six-yard area.
In stoppage time of the first half, Fernandinho Junior found Sasere who hit the post from close-range through the fingertips of Giacomo Volpe, which was the closest the Greens came in the opening 45 minutes.
Close to the hour, Birkirkara nearly doubled when Alex Satariano powered himself through the Floriana defence on the left, crossed to young 18-year-old Nicholas Agius who failed to give his goal attempt the right direction from an ideal angle.
Birkirkara doubled on 67 minutes when Maxuell Samurai profited from a bad Matias Garcia back pass towards Christoffer Henri Mafoumbi, who headed the ball outside of his penalty area in the path of the Birkirkara forward, lobbing the ball against the net without hesitation, an awkward error by the team of coach Darren Abdilla.
Three minutes later, Mafoumbi did well to turn a top-corner free-kick by Maxuell Samurai into a corner and on 77 minutes, Mafoumbi paraded an on-target Agius attempt with difficulty, with Birkirkara now taking maximum advantage of the available space as Floriana threw everything into the attack.
On 80 minutes, Floriana were back in the game when Alexandros Kouro volleyed home from a corner-action after Elvis Mashike unintentionally served the Greek defender with a mistimed header.
Not much later, Volpe was called back into action on an Aleandro Garzia attempt, which the Italian shot-stopper blocked in style.
On 86 minutes, two minutes after substitute Gabriel Sotomayor was yellow-carded for simulation in a possible penalty-incident, Mashike came close by nearly rounding off a fine individual move on the edge of the box, but Congolese striker aimed his attempt too high.
However, Floriana failed to score the desired equaliser which means Birkirkara can prepare for their 13th FA Trophy Final in their history. Apart from this victory over Floriana, Birkirkara reached the Final by beating Balzan in the First Round, Fgura United in the Round of 16 while the team of coach Stefano De Angelis needed extra time in the Quarter-Finals to beat BOV Challenge League champions Valletta.
Hamrun Spartans FC 1-2 Hibernians FC
The second Semi-Final on Wednesday was monumental for Hibernians, who got the better of recently-crowned Maltese champions Hamrun Spartans by the odd goal in three. The victory of the team coached by Branko Nisevic was hard-earned but well-deserved however, with them being the more enterprising team on the night.
In the seventh minute, Hamrun came close when a cross-shot of Joseph Mbong hit the crossbar with the Hibernians rearguard eventually clearing.
It was however Hibernians who broke the deadlock just after the half-hour when Henry Bonello initially managed to block a Bjorn Kristensen scorcher but with Jurgen Degabriele firing home the rebound.
On 43 minutes, the Paolites were awarded a penalty when Brazilian forward Miullen Natha Felicio Carvalho was brought down in the penalty area by Mbong. Fellow striker Licas Villela Iapert stepped up and sent Bonello the wrong way to double the advantage.
Five minutes after the restart, Alfred Hamanjoda Silas found Villela in the penalty area but Bonello blocked the Brazilian’s on-target attempt.
But the Spartans dominated the second-half and were not to be denied when on 57 minutes, Mbong pulled one back with a shot from just inside the area which had the better of Pablo Sanchez. Not much later, Redon Mihana’s attempt sailed inches wide over the bar, with the Malta champions now in the driving seat for an equaliser.
But Hibernians also had their chances as just after the hour, Degabriele anticipated a Roko Prsa back pass with Bonello turning the attempt of the Hibernians striker into a corner. Five minutes later, Bonello did well again to block a Villela 20-meters distance grounder, which was slightly deflected on its way towards the goal.
With Hamrun throwing all on attack and therefore leaving space in defence, both sides were given some opportunities to add one or two goals to their tally, with Bonello and Sanchez distinguishing themselves with some excellent saves.
Ognjen Bjelicic was sent off for Hamrun in stoppage time after an altercation in the middle of the pitch.
As a result, Hibernians ran away as 2-1 winners in the Semi-Final, sparking widespread celebrations from the Hibs faithful, as aside from having the chance to win the trophy, they are also still in with a chance of securing European football for next season.
Hibernians, who had the better of Zebbug Rangers, Qala Saints in Gozo and Naxxar Lions in the previous rounds, will now play their 22nd FA Trophy Final while, ironically, the last time they reached the Final in 2015, the Paolites also had to face Birkirkara with the latter winning 2-0.
Meridianbet FA Trophy Final
The 2024/25 Meridianbet FA Trophy Final will be played on Sunday 18th May at the National Stadium between Birkirkara and Hibernians, with kick-off at 18:30hrs.
Limited tickets for the Final are now available online on tickets.mfa.com.mt!