Qormi 3
Mendoza 31og; Grech 45; Cantoro 89;
Birkirkara 1
Fenech 17;

Qormi remain a different proposition when tackling cup football.

On paper, Premier League leaders Birkirkara shouldn’t have encountered much trouble to overcome a modest Qormi side who have lost four of their last five league matches.

Yet, the Yellow-Blacks have earned a reputation as tricky opponents in the U*Bet FA Trophy, having made three cup final appearances in the last four seasons. Yesterday, they came from behind to eliminate the Stripes for the second year running.

A goal down after 17 minutes, and with Owen Bugeja and goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia both succumbing to injury, Qormi were up against it but they outwitted the champions for most of the match.

The stage seemed set for another dominant Birkirkara display when Paul Fenech opened the scoring. But the wounded Qormi equalised immediately through an own goal by Spanish defender Alejandro Mendoza.

The Stripes then gifted Qormi the lead before half-time after a glaring mistake by goalkeeper Justin Haber.

With the Stripes crying out for inspiration, Qormi continued to have a go at their opponents and finished the job with a third goal just before the final whistle.

Qormi were boosted by the return of Brazilian midfielder Gabriel as Karel Zeman made a raft of changes in a bid to reinvigorate his team.

Gabriel and Leighton Grech, on the wings, relied on their speed to glide into dangerous positions, Triston Caruana marshalled the midfield alongside Simone Quintieri in a re-shaped side which had Lucas Cantoro and Alfred Effiong in attack.

Paul Zammit, no doubt unwilling to give Zeman any further encouragement, fielded a very strong side as Edward Herrera and Nikola Vukanac were back in the frame after missing last week’s victory over Vittoriosa Stars with Matheus Bissi and Zach Muscat making way for the returning duo. Herrera was allowed to push on extremely high up the right flank.

Less than three minutes from Finnish referee Ville Nevalainen’s initial whistle had passed when Qormi defender Bugeja limped out with injury.

Yet, after 15 minutes, Effiong nearly put Qormi ahead. The Nigerian outsmarted Mendoza but his close-range shot was repelled by Haber.

Effiong’s direct running and that of Grech was unsettling the Birkirkara defence but it was the latter who drew first blood after 17 minutes.

Latching on to a diagonal pass from Shola Shodiya Haruna, Fenech sprinted past Duncan Pisani before rifling a fierce shot that had the better of Farrugia.

The Stripes might have scored a second a few moments later when Herrera advanced unimpeded on the left before sending in a cross towards the near post but Haruna headed wide.

Birkirkara had been worth their lead but on the half-hour mark, Caruana’s free-kick soared into the centre of the box where Mendoza inadvertently headed the ball past Haber in a bid to anticipate Effiong.

Undeterred, Birkirkara produced an instant reaction with Haruna embarking on one of his trademark runs, running past Emerson Vella, only to see his low drive hitting the base of the post after 37 minutes.

Qormi were then dealt another setback when goalkeeper Farrugia picked up what looked like a serious injury as he was stretchered into the waiting ambulance and taken to hospital.

Against all odds, Qormi continued to look dangerous but Zeman’s troops would not have expected to be handed the lead by their opponents.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Haber came out of his area to try and cut out Effiong’s pass from the halfway line but the Malta goalkeeper missed the ball, allowing Grech a clear shot at goal before the winger rolled the ball over the line.

After the break, Zammit threw on Ryan Camenzuli for Ryan Scicluna and switched to a three-man defence If this move was aimed at boosting Birkirkara’s impetus, this was not forthcoming as their energy levels dropped. Yet, the Stripes tried to muster a reaction and Mendoza headed over from Jhonnattann’s corner.

Past the hour mark, Gabriel and Grech combined to produce an excellent move on the left.

The Brazilian advanced before releasing Grech who had time to assess his options before sending his drive wide of the near post.

Seven minutes later, Haruna unleashed a powerful shot but the Nigerian was thwarted by a fine tipping save from Steve Sultana who had replaced Farrugia.

The game continued to ebb and flow. Quintieri served Effiong on the left but the striker curled wide after racing past Haber.

As the minutes ticked away, Birkirkara’s hopes started to fizzle out.

Three minutes from time, Camenzuli met Herrera’s corner but was denied by Jonathan Bondin who put his body in the way of the midfielder’s shot.

Two minutes later, substitute Ronaille’s shot on the turn looked to have crossed the line before Sultana saved in two attempts but the goal was not given. TV replays failed to show whether the ball had crossed the line entirely.

From Sultana’s ensuing kick, Effiong drove past Gareth Sciberras and Haber but the backtracking Mendoza managed to intercept his shot.

Cantoro was on the right spot to stab the ball home as Qormi sealed their place in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy where they will face the winners of today’s quarter-final between Sliema Wanderers and Pietá Hotspurs.

Qormi
M. Farrugia (43 S. Sultana), O. Bugeja (3 E. Vella), G. Gianola, J. Bondin, D. Pisani, S. Quintieri (73 R. Bajada), T. Caruana, Gabriel, L. Cantoro, A. Effiong, L. Grech.

Birkirkara
J. Haber, P. Fenech, A. Mendoza, N. Vukanac, F. Temile (75 Ronaille), G. Sciberras, R. Scicluna (58 R. Camenzuli), J. Zerafa, S.S. Haruna, E. Herrera, Jhonnattann (80 T. Vella).

Referee: Ville Nevalainen (Finland).

Yellow cards: Vella; Temile; Quintieri; Scicluna; Haruna; Herrera.

Attendance: 1,510.