Rivals Valletta, Hibernians kept apart

Champions Valletta and Hibernians stayed on course to meet in the final of this season’s U*Bet FA Trophy after the two rivals were kept apart in yesterday’s semi-finals draw, held at the new conference room at the National Stadium.

Valletta will face Qormi in the first semi-final, to be played today week at the National Stadium, with Hibs taking on Ħamrun Spartans in the second, scheduled for Monday, May 21.

Chasing a league and cup double, Valletta advanced to the semi-finals after a 3-1 win over Mosta while Qormi needed an extra-time goal from departed Brazilian striker Caio to see off Pietà Hotspurs.

Hibs had the toughest route to the last four as they edged out Floriana, last year’s FA Trophy winners, with a solitary Clayton Failla goal.

Ħamrun Spartans beat Division One side St George’s 3-1 in the other quarter-final.

In a short address before yesterday’s draw, held prior to Valletta’s final league match against Hibs, Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA CEO, hailed the success of the new FA Cup-style format of the KO competition.

“We have now reached a crucial phase of this competition,” Vassallo said. “For the first time, the U*Bet FA Trophy was contested by all the clubs in Malta as well as the top-flight teams in Gozo.

“The attendances are encouraging and these will surely increase in the final games.

“We’ve also had some surprises as we had teams from Division One reaching the quarter-finals.

“We have four big teams in the semi-finals. While Valletta and Hibs are technically very strong, Qormi and Ħamrun Spartans represent two of the biggest localities in Malta.”

Iris Camilleri Mifsud, of Maltco Lotteries, sponsors of the FA Trophy, praised the MFA for their on-going drive to improve the image of Maltese football.

“This new conference room reflects the MFA’s efforts to enhance the image of local football,” Camilleri Mifsud said.

Semi-final draw

May 20 (18.00): Qormi vs Valletta
May 21 (19.30): Hibs vs Ħamrun
Final: May 27, National Stadium.