FA Trophy Round Up • 23 March 2003

Hibernians and Floriana advance to semis

Champions Hibernians and Floriana joined Sliema Wanderers and holders Birkirkara in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy after beating Valletta and Marsaxlokk respectively on Saturday at the National Stadium at Ta’ Qali.

Hibernians opened on the attack and after only three minutes Adrian Mifsud dribbled past two defenders but his shot was saved to a corner by Sean Sullivan.

After nine minutes and in their first attack Valletta almost broke the deadlock but Rumen Galabov’s header was cleared off the line by Peter Pullicino with keeper Muscat beaten.

The small crowd present had to wait up till the 72 minutes to see another real goalmouth action when Valletta’s striker Chris Oretan hit the crossbar.

But when everything pointed to a the match that was going into extra-time Hibernians grabbed the match winner through a fast counter-attack thanks to a Roderick Baldacchino’s hard drive from just outside the area, which gave Sullivan no chance at all.

Valletta tried to salvage the match but Robert Gatt’s side held on till the final whistle to book a place in the last four of the competition.

REFEREE: Joe Attard

Meanwhile extra-time strikes from Jonathan Holland and Kamenov Simeonov handed Floriana a 2-0 victory over Marsaxlokk in Saturday’s first FA Trophy quarter-final clash at the National Stadium.

This win brought to an end Marsaxlokk’s dream to advance into the last four of this prestigious competition for the first time in their club’s history.

In the first 90 minutes there were nothing special to report with neither side trying to break the deadlock and when the few opportunities came up players shot wide.

Extra-time was a different story with both sides trying their best to forge ahead. But it was Floriana who succeeded to go in front when on 97 minutes Jonathan Holland shot past goalkeeper Reuben Debono.

A minute later the Greens had a great opportunity to double the score, when Nicolo Baldacchino found himself face to face with keeper Debono, but the Under 21 international shot wide.

Floriana put the issue beyond doubt three minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty after Marsaxlokk’s Richard Buhagiar handled the ball in the penalty-area. From the spot kick Kamenov Simeonov beat Debono.

The Greens could have made it 3-0 when on 119 minutes they hit the woodwork twice in succession, first through Nicolo Baldacchino and then it was the turn of Kamenov Simeonov from the rebound with Debono beaten.

REFEREE: Charles Agius