Tough draw for holders

Two of the most in-form teams in the Premier League, Hibernians and Floriana, were yesterday pitted against each other in the U*Bet FA Trophy quarter-finals.

The draw, made at the Malta FA headquarters in Ta’ Qali, was kind with two other top-flight contenders, Ħamrun Spartans and Qormi. They were paired with Division One hopefuls St George’s and Pieta Hotspurs respectively while last year’s beaten finalists, Valletta should be satisfied with the draw as they play outsiders Mosta for a place in the semi-finals.

Hibernians and Floriana, the Trophy holders, are currently leading the chase behind leaders Valletta in the league standings.

With only four matches to go before the split between the top and bottom six, where points will be halved, both teams are very much in the picture with Hibs only four points behind the Citizens and the Greens two less than the Paolites.

Hibs pose a serious obstacle for Floriana to retain the title they claimed for the 19th time last year. In the fourth round, an Andre Grabowski goal saw the Greens through against Balzan Youths.

When these two teams met in the first round of the championship earlier this season the spoils were shared in a one-all draw.

The quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of February 25-26. That means Hibs and Floriana will be clashing twice in a space of a few days as they meet in the league on February 18.

The last time Hibs and Floriana met in the Trophy was in 2006 when the Paolites won the final 1-0.

Valletta are bidding to make a fourth successive showing in the final but first they will have to deal with a revived Mosta team.

Ħamrun battled hard to oust Birkirkara in the fourth round and should start favourites against St George’s.

However, Qormi face a potential banana skin tie as giant-killers Pieta, who are topping the standings in Division One, have already claimed two Premier League scalps on their way to reaching the quarter-finals.

And Edmund Lufi’s Hotspurs did that in style after comfortable wins over Tarxien Rainbows (3-0) and Marsaxlokk (5-1).

THE DRAW: Ħamrun Spartans vs St George’s; Valletta vs Mosta; Pieta vs Qormi; Hibernians vs Floriana.

Ties to be played on February 25-26.

Pedrinho player of the month

Pedro dos Santos Calcado, of Balzan Youths, is the BOV Player of the Month for January.

Pedrinho, as the Brazilian striker is affectionately known, was an asset for Balzan to remain unbeaten in their three outings last month and consolidate their place at the top rungs of the league standings.

Pedrinho scored two goals in Balzan’s 2-2 draw against Mqabba and was also on the mark in the 2-1 win over Sliema.