Holders cruise to semi-finals

Mosta 0
Birkirkara 5

When the FA Trophy quarter-finals draw was made Birkirkara may have been handed the easiest tie when paired with First Division Mosta. Coach Stephen Azzopardi was not taking any chances though and yesterday fielded his strongest possible formation to ensure that the holders progress to the semi-finals.

Missing the injured Lucian Dronca, Haruna Doda, Roderick Briffa and Michael Galea, the Premier League chasers still had a wealth of talent to rely on for this encounter.

Joe Grech, the Mosta trainer, was fully aware that his side was facing a mammoth task. Having survived the first two rounds of the competition against fellow teams from Division One, the Blues were drawn against one of the most in-form teams at the moment in the top flight.

With the odds heavily stacked against them, Mosta weathered the early storm and frustrated the Stripes with some stubborn defending that lasted half an hour before their fort crumbled.

When Birkirkara's striking machine unleashes its fury, there is little that can stop them as Mosta learnt at their own expense in the second half.

Leading by a solitary goal and with qualification still in the balance, the Stripes ran riot in the final quarter, notching four goals to send their modest opponents reeling.

Mosta fashioned an attempt inside the first minute as Asciak took his chance with a shot from outside the penalty area which was easily saved by Haber. This proved to be one of the very few real chances that the Blues managed throughout the whole match.

Birkirkara pounded the Mosta goal relentlessly and the minnows replied by pushing as many as nine-blue-shirted players behind the ball.

The breakthrough came on the half hour.

Galea did well to drill the ball towards the centre of the penalty area for Zahra to try a spectacular volley which was partially blocked by a defence stretched to its limits. Calascione darted in for the rebound but his attempt was also foiled by Galea who cleared the ball to a corner. This proved the catalyst for Birkirkara to go ahead.

Camenzuli whipped the flag-kick towards the far post and Zahra did well to nip in and head past Sciberras.

Four minutes from half-time, Mosta had a golden opportunity to restore parity. Farrugia did well to slot the ball towards Asciak who found himself with an open chance at goal.

The former Rabat player hesitated a second too long in testing Haber and a timely tackle by Bonnici averted a potential twist to the match.

Five minutes into the second half, Birkirkara nearly doubled their lead. Calascione served Zahra who sizzled a firm shot which was palmed away for a corner by Sciberras.

On the hour, Vassallo came to Mosta's rescue when heading away Scicluna's powerful shot that looked destined for goal.

Sciberras was constantly on his guard as the Stripes' fury escalated with the ticking of the clock. Nwoko thought he had sealed qualification for Birkirkara from a free-kick that was equally matched with a spectacular save by the seasoned Mosta goalkeeper.

Calascione was constantly feeding his colleagues to test their shooting skills at Sciberras' goal. On 66 minutes, he wisely served Camenzuli who broke free on the left flank but powered his shot high over the crossbar.

Moments later, Calascione tapped the ball to the unmarked Mifsud Triganza but the Stripes substitute missed the target altogether.

As if to prove a point to his colleagues and make up for their lost chances, Calascione found the Mosta net on 72 minutes. He flashed in to pounce on Nwoko's cross giving Sciberras no chance of blocking the ball's flight into goal.

Another goal was always in the offing and it came courtesy of Camenzuli who rounded off a brilliant one-two move with Bonnici with a tap-in that sailed into the net.

The Blues were now completely swept off their feet as the floodgates were letting in water from all quarters. Ten minutes from time, Nwoko stepped up for another free-kick and his ferocious shot arrowed into the net.

It was celebration time for the Stripes as even coach Azzopardi stepped off his bench to join his upbeat players on the touch-line.

Bonnici was the last player to notch a goal for Birkirkara as he headed his team's fifth and final strike following a cross by the hardworking Calascione.

Mosta: C. Sciberras, P. Sciriha, P. Vassallo, M. Agius (M. Borg 73rd), R. Asciak, A. Chetcuti (C. Camenzuli 59th), S. Farrugia (W. Borg 81st), C. Tabone, R. Newell, I. Bilocca, B. Galea.

Birkirkara: J. Haber, M.A. Bonnici, L. Galea, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, C. Nwoko, A. Zahra (C. Micallef 73rd), K. Scicluna, G. Mallia (S. Sadowski 76th), A. Ciantar (J.P. Mifsud Triganza 62nd).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Scorers: Zahra 30th, Calascione 72nd, Camenzuli 77th, Nwoko 80th, Bonnici 86th.