Blues win shoot-out after thriller

Valletta 3
Priso 49; Agius 90+2; Monesterolo 90+5
Sliema Wanderers 3
Muscat 51, 65; Woods 80
(aet; Sliema win 4-3 on pens.)

Sliema Wanderers won a highly-dramatic FA Trophy final last night when they beat a battling Valletta side in a penalty shoot-out after an extraordinary match that left the hundreds at the National Stadium on the edge of their seats.

The Blues had looked well on their way to claim their 20th FA Trophy success in normal time. With only added time to play, they were leading 3-1 but 10-man City refused to accept defeat.

They launched an astonishing fightback and scored two stoppage-time goals, drawing incredible stamina even after Doding Priso was sent off four minutes after the restart and Sebastian Monesterolo failing to pull one back from a penalty .

But luck deserted the Citizens in the shoot-out as Gilbert Agius and Steve Bezzina had their spot-kicks stopped by reserve keeper Henry Bonello. Roderick Bajada's penalty was saved by Andrew Hogg but the City keeper failed to stop the shots from Noel Turner, Mark Scerri, Branko Nisevic and Ivan Woods.

In the end, the Wanderers could not hide their delight when captain Noel Turner received the trophy from MFA president Joe Mifsud.

At the other end, the City fans applauded their players but deep down they knew this was a season to forget, having seen their team missing out on a second major honour in the space of a few days after the upset in the league decider.

Valletta coach Paul Zammit relegated Dyson Falzon and Edmund Agius to the bench with Roderick Briffa and Monesterolo in the starting line-up.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Sliema coach, had goalkeeper Simon Agius, defenders Ian Azzopardi and Jeffrey Chetcuti, midfielders Mark Scerri and Matthew Bartolo all restored to his first XI.

Valletta made a strong start and after a handful of minutes they should have already been a goal ahead when the unmarked Priso Doding fired over with only Agius to beat.

The Whites were enjoying the better share of possession.

On 15 minutes, Monesterolo was quick to pounce after some hesitant Sliema defending but his shot from a tight angle was cleared in time by Ciantar. Gilbert Agius then did well to slid the ball into the path of Monesterolo but the Argentine miscued his shot from routine distance.

Sliema threatened first on the half hour when Woods found himself in ample space in the Valletta half but his run was halted by a strong challenge from Luke Dimech.

The match lost much of its intensity for the rest of the first half. Valletta had done most of the running but it was no surprise that at the break both teams were still locked on a 0-0 draw.

Valletta, however, finally forced a breakthrough four minutes into the second half. Gilbert Agius's throughball put Priso clear and the Cameroonian had little difficulty in hitting low past the keeper.

However, Priso lifted his shirt as he ran to the fans and that move cost him dearly as he received a second booking and got sent off by uncompromising referee Chris Lautier.

Priso's dismissal was the turning point of the match.

Valletta suddenly lost composure and two minutes later Alex Muscat blocked Zammit's clearance outside the box, the ball fell kindly to the Sliema wing-back who beat Hogg to restore equilibrium.

Zammit looked nervous and lost his place to Edmund Agius but Valletta failed to settle down.

Hogg denied the Blues a second goal with a stunning save on Woods's curling shot but on 65 minutes Sliema struck again.

Woods chested down Bajada's centre into the path of Muscat who unleashed a powerful volley that flew past a helpless Hogg.

Coach Zammit tried to add more speed to Valletta's attacking lines when he withdrew Grioli and roped in Falzon. Azzopardi responded by withdrawing Dronca who was replaced by veteran Noel Turner.

City's hopes to save the match were almost dashed ten minutes from time when Woods stole possession in midfield and raced into Hogg's box before hitting home with a cute chip.

Valletta never buckled though and were handed a lifeline three minutes from time when Falzon was floored in the box and the referee ordered a penalty. Monesterolo stepped up for the kick but his shot was excellently stopped by Agius.

The Sliema keeper had to abandon his goal, however, two minutes later as he fell awkwardly during a corner action. Many thought that stand-in Bonello's appearance was just a token one but six minutes of added time was enough for City to draw level.

Gilbert Agius initiated the comeback when anticipating Bonello to head the ball home and more drama was to follow as just before the final whistle Falzon's low cross was deflected by Agius with the ball hitting the upright and from the rebound Monesterolo stabbed in.

The City fans were the ones shouting louder now but Turner almost silenced them in the early stages of extra time when his grounder was cleared off the line by the well-placed Dimech.

Briffa almost surprised Bonello at the other end when his deflected cross-shot caught the Sliema goalkeeper out of his position but he quickly retracted to save his fort with the aid of the upright.

On 102 minutes Falzon fired the ball past Bonello but the referee disallowed the goal for offside and Turner should have won it for Sliema but failed to connect to Bartolo's inviting cross.

On the stroke of time, Sliema were also reduced to ten men when Chetcuti received his second booking.

Penalties were needed to break the deadlock. From the spot, Sliema were more accurate to tilt the balance in their favour after a typical cup cruncher.

The Wanderers now play in the second qualifying round of the Europa League on July 16.

Valletta and Birkirkara figure in the first qualifying round of the same competition in the first week of July.

The 2009/10 Premier League kicks off on August 21.

Valletta
A. Hogg, J. Grioli ('71 D. Falzon), K. Scicluna, L. Dimech, S. Bezzina, G. Agius, J. Pace, D. Priso, R. Briffa, I. Zammit ('57 E. Agius), S. Monesterolo ('113 S. Giglio).

Sliema Wanderers
S. Agius ('89 H. Bonello), A. Muscat ('83 J. Mintoff), I. Azzopardi, B. Nisevic, M. Scerri, M. Bartolo, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, L. Dronca ('74 N. Turner), I. Ciantar, R. Bajada.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Priso, Azzopardi, Chetcuti, Zammit, Bajada, Dimech, Pace, Ciantar.

Red cards: Priso (V) 49; Chetcuti (S) 119.

Missed penalty: Monesterolo (V) 87.

Penalty sequence: G. Agius (V) saved 0-0; Turner (S) scores 0-1; Bezzina (V) saved 0-1; Bajada (S) saved 0-1; Giglio (V) scores 1-1; Scerri (S) scores 1-2; Falzon (V) scores 2-2; Nisevic (S) scores 2-3; Pace (V) scores 3-3; Woods (S) scores 3-4.