City, Greens eye showdown as draw keeps rivals apart

Valletta and Floriana stayed on course to meet in the final of the National League 100 Anniversary Cup after the draw for the semi-finals kept the two neighbouring foes apart.

As the Malta FA pulled the wraps off the Anniversary Cup trophy at yesterday's draw, Valletta, the favourites to win this one-off competition, were drawn against Tarxien Rainbows and Floriana were paired with Mosta, the only team from outside the Premier League to progress to the last four.

The possibility of a repeat of the Centenary Cup final has increased after Valletta and Floriana advanced to the semi-finals last week. On December 13, 2000, the Citizens upstaged their rivals 3-1 to lift the Centenary Cup, held to commemorate the MFA's 100th anniversary, on their way to claiming a record haul of six honours in season 2000-2001.

Valletta booked their place in the semi-finals of the Anniversary Cup, which marks the centenary of the national league, after seeing off Hibs 2-0 in the last eight while Floriana edged Ħamrun Spartans on penalties after their quarter-final ended two-all.

Although yesterday's draw heightened expectations of a Valletta-Floriana showdown, their progress to the final is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Tarxien will take heart from their head-to-head record against Valletta this season as the Rainbows are the only team in the top flight not to have lost against the title favourites so far after their two league meetings both ended in a 2-2 draw.

Morale at Tarxien is sky-high at present after the team secured a berth in the Championship Pool. In the quarter-finals, Tarxien knocked out Division Two side Lija Athletic 2-0.

Floriana are surely happy about the draw as they will face a team who, on paper, are the weakest among the four semi-finalists. However, cup competitions are famed for surprises and Mosta pulled off the biggest upset of the Anniversary Cup so far by eliminating Sliema Wanderers in Wednesday's quarter-final.

The winners of the two semi-finals, scheduled for March 24 at the National Stadium, will contest the final on April 14.

The eventual winner will take home the National League 100 Anniversary Cup trophy. Designed by Joe Micallef, the new trophy is a bronze sculpture, featuring a ball and three C-shaped rods symbolising the word centus (hundred in Latin), on a hard-stone base.

Semi-final draw

Tarxien Rainbows vs Valletta
Mosta vs Floriana

Ties to be played on March 24 at National Stadium. Final on April 14 (kick-off 7.30 p.m.).

Path to the last four

Floriana: vs Mqabba 2-0, Melita 1-0, Ħamrun Spartans 2-2 (6-5 on pens).
Mosta: vs Siġġiewi 3-1, Għargħur 4-1, Sliema Wanderers 2-1.
Tarxien: vs Msida St Joseph 5-0, Balzan 5-1, Lija Athletic 2-0.
Valletta: vs Gozo FC 7-0, Vittoriosa Stars 3-0, Hibs 2-0.