Underdogs reach final

Tarxien Rainbows 1
Vittoriosa Stars 3

Vittoriosa Stars wrecked Tarxien Rainbows' hopes of completing a double when they finished worthy winners from this semi-final at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.

Tarxien, the holders, were far from their league form and although they had their moments they were always second best on the day.

It was Keith Darmanin who secured the win for the Cottonera side eight minutes from time. Again, Massimo Cremona's team had Nigerian striker Anthony Eviparker in superb form, always dangerous whenever taking hold of possession.

The Stars started the game strongly and went in front after only two minutes when Eviparker headed in from a Larry Lagana cross.

Vittoriosa continued to show the better ideas and again stunned the Division One champions on 21 minutes when Eviparker showed class and speed before slotting the ball home following a long clearance.

Tarxien were nowhere to be seen and could have suffered another goal when following a melee inside their box Eviparker's shot whizzed over the bar.

Tarxien got a reprieve on 37 minutes when Omar Grech rose high above the Vittoriosa defence to head home a Malcolm Buttigieg centre.

The Rainbows started to look dangerous, particularly on the flanks. But, to their credit, Vittoriosa's defensive lines stood firm and did their job perfectly to keep danger away from their goal.

Tarxien, however, almost equalised 11 minutes from time but Cassar was on the right spot to keep out an Angus Buhagiar free-kick.

Vittoriosa wrapped up the game, on 82 minutes when from a Lagana corner, Darmanin chested down the ball before hitting past Anthony Curmi in goal.

Vittoriosa substitute Leighton Grech could have made it 4-1 three minutes from time but he was thwarted by Curmi who saved the shot from two metres out.

Tarxien
R. Curmi, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana, M. Buttigieg (M. Borg), O. Grech, E. Mbong, S. Shead, A. Buhagiar, R. Schembri (M. Zammit), J.P. Muscat, L. Vella Critien (J. Shead).

Vittoriosa Stars
I. Cassar, S. Privitelli (C. Cachia), J. Camilleri (H. Hughes), C. Sciberras, I. Zammit, A. Eviparker, K. Darmanin (L. Grech), L. Lagana, S. Calleja, D. Gauci, J. Spiteri.

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Man of the match: Anthony Eviparker (Vittoriosa Stars).

Dingli Swallows 2
Mosta 1

Dingli Swallows completed a week of misery for Mosta as they put them out of the KO competition following a hard-fought semi-final.

Mosta's morale was at a low ebb after their promotion decider upset to Qormi last Friday. They also had Antonio Saliba, Elton Vella and Steve Borg missing through suspension as striker Carlos Camenzuli started on the bench and Claude Carbonaro took Jonathan Debono's place in goal.

For Dingli, Uchanna Anywanna, Jeremy Agius and Christopher Ciappara combined perfectly to give the Mosta rearguard a torrid time.

It was Mosta who produced their first real threat when Massimo Grima brought the best out of goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia with a tremendous drive from 35 metres.

On 21 minutes, Roderick Spiteri tried his luck from the distance and Carbonaro did well to turn to a corner.

A minute later Jesmond Zammit's side opened the scoring when Ciappara hit home an inviting Etienne Farrugia delivery inside the Mosta box.

Dingli kept control and on 65 minutes scored a gem of a goal, one of the best seen this season.

Ciappara cleared the ball into the path of Anywanna who squared the ball wisely for Agius. The latter, despite being chased by several Mosta players, sprinted through before placing home in style.

Mosta came back into the match with 15 minutes left. Ryan Deguara beat two defenders before serving Grima who fired the ball home from 10 metres out.

Dingli came close to regaining a two-goal lead on 82 minutes when Spiteri beat the offside trap with a fine solo run but he was foiled by Carbonaro's fine save.

In stoppage time, Farrugia could have made the game safe for Dingli but his scorching grounder finished just wide.

Dingli Swallows
J. Farrugia, F. Cauchi, R. Spiteri, C. Ciappara, K. Formosa, V. Fiteni (E. Casha), C. Muscat, J. Agius (M. Galea), J. Cachia, E. Farrugia, U. Anywanna (C. Tabone).

Mosta
C. Carbonaro, M. Brincat, R. Deguara, M. Farrugia, N. Gatt, M. Grima, N. Kalenga, C. Pace, C. Sant (C. Camenzuli), D. Theuma, P. Vassallo (L. Micallef).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Roderick Spiteri (Dingli Swallows) .