Birkirkara………..2
Floriana………….1
Birkirkara secured their place in the final of the Meridianbet FA Trophy after a hard-fought victory over Floriana.
The match began with early drama in the second minute when Birkirkara’s Maia went down in Floriana’s penalty area. While the home supporters appealed for a penalty, referee Slobodan Petrovic deemed the play legal. In the 10th minute, Floriana launched an attack down the right through Garzia, who delivered a cross, but Sasere missed the target from close range. Birkirkara had another penalty appeal in the 22nd minute when Agius went down in the box, but once again the referee waved play on.
Three minutes later, Birkirkara took the lead following a move that began on the right flank with Lacunza, who delivered a cross across Floriana’s penalty area. Maia was quick to react and headed the ball centrally where Gaitan was on hand to tap it into the net.
In the 38th minute, Birkirkara countered with a numerical advantage, but Makoma opted to shoot from distance and the ball deflected off a Floriana player. Two minutes later, Floriana’s Yameogo committed a foul on Satariano and was shown the first yellow card of the match. In added time, Floriana came close to equalising when Gomes Junior crossed from the left and Sasere directed the ball towards goal, only for goalkeeper Volpe to react brilliantly and tip the ball onto the upright and out.
At the start of the second half, Floriana coach Darren Abdilla made his first tactical change, bringing on Vella in place of Portocarrero. In the 59th minute, Birkirkara had a good chance through Satariano, who made a strong run down the left, beat the defender and crossed, but neither Maia nor Agius could finish the move.
Three minutes later, Floriana were forced to make a substitution due to an injury to Gomes Junior, replaced by Cardozo. In the 64th minute, Birkirkara’s Agius was booked for a foul.
In the 67th minute, Birkirkara doubled their lead after a poor backpass from a Floriana defender put goalkeeper Mafoumbi under pressure. Mafoumbi rushed out of his area and attempted to head the ball clear, but slipped—allowing Maia to strike from distance and find the back of the net.
Floriana responded with a double substitution in the 70th minute, introducing Sukisa and Scerri in place of Spiteri and Grech. A minute later, Garcia received a yellow card for a foul on Agius. In the 73rd minute, Maia delivered a superb free-kick, but Mafoumbi reacted well to push the ball wide.
In the 81st minute, Floriana pulled one back from a left-sided corner. Sukisa flicked the ball on with a header, and Kouro fired home from close range. A minute later, Floriana nearly equalised with a powerful shot from Garzia, but Volpe was alert once more to keep it out.
In the 84th minute, Cardozo committed a foul and received Floriana’s third yellow card of the evening. Two minutes later, Birkirkara coach Stefano De Angelis made his first change, bringing on Cross for Agius.
Despite five minutes of added time, Birkirkara managed to hold on to their lead and booked their spot in the final of the FA Trophy.
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Birkirkara: Giacomo Volpe (GK), Luis Mario Cordova Mina, Pablo Leonel Gaetan, Tomislav Papasov, Alexander Satariano (C), Leandro Lautaro Lacunza, Neil Micallef, Alessandro Coppola, Donovan Stephane Makoma, Manuel Maia, Nicholas James Agius (64’ YC, 86’ Nathan Cross).
Floriana: Christoffer Henri Mafoumbi (GK), Jake Grech (C, 70’ Zachary Scerri), Joel Eblin Becerra Portocarrero (46’ Dunstan Vella), Owen Spiteri (70’ Elvis Mashike Sukisa), Mathias Nicolas Garcia (71’ YC), Gonzalo Julian Gamarra, Franklin Sasere, Alexandros Kouro, Alejandro Garcia, Guy Serge Cedric Yameogo (40’ YC), Jose Fernando Gomes Junior (62’ Gabriel Agustin Sotomayor Cardozo (84’ YC)).
