Hibernians 1 Floriana 0
A penalty three minutes from time handed Hibernians their ticket to the FA Trophy semi-finals today. The luck of the draw meant that holder Floriana and Hibernians had to lock their horns in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy competition, just a week after their sharing of the spoils in the premier league.
On the half hour mark, Luis Edison's footwork proved too much for the Paolities' defenders but his diagonal effort skimmed the post.
In a quick break Alandson raced on the left flank before delivering the ball in the box but the ball was punched away by goalkeeper Mario Muscat. The loose ball ran into Joseph Borg's way but his shot finished just wide before half-time.
It was all Hibernians in the opening stages after the break as Floriana's rearguard was put under severe test. In the 47th minute, Luis Edison found himself one-on-one with Patrick Jansen but the Brazilian was thwarted by the Dutch who divided to his left to parry. In next to no time, he pulled off another save from Kristensen's high-riser.
In the 54th minute, Borg failed to make a meaningful connection with Pablo Doffo's teasing free-kick.
After 68 minutes, Hibernians would have taken the lead were it not for Jansen. Clayton Failla crossed towards Edison whose point-blank shot brought an excellent save from the Dutch goalkeeper. From the rebound, Aaron Xuereb saw his firm header cleared off the line by Manolito Micallef.
Hibernians were dealt an unexpected blow three minutes later when Dias picked up what looked like a serious injury after colliding with an opponent. The striker was carried off on a stretcher and into the waiting ambulance that took him to hospital.
Hibernians tore into Floriana and the Paolities applied the coup de grace three minutes from time. Andrew Cohen hit a spectacular long-range pass towards the far post but the backtracking Eric Akoto gave away a penalty in a bid to stop Edison, grabbing his shirt and wrestling him to the ground. Failla drilled his penalty into the left-hand corner to send the supporters into ruptures.
It was too late for Floriana to force an equaliser as Hibs held on for a deserved win.