Birkirkara 1
Fenech 110;
Valletta 0
(after extra-time)
Paul Fenech’s decision to spurn Valletta’s overtures and extend his deal with Birkirkara made for an intriguing sub-plot to this eagerly-awaited FA Trophy semi-final between the two fierce rivals.
The highly-rated midfielder was left out of the starting XI as he only rejoined the team for training on Friday but he capped a rollercoaster week on a brilliant note.
Rising from the bench to replace Ryan Scicluna seven minutes from the end of normal time, Fenech decided this tight contest after hitting the winner in the second half of extra-time.
The game took a long time to ignite with Birkirkara, who came into the match in upbeat mood after a productive week in their contract discussions with Rowen Muscat, goalkeeper Justin Haber and Fenech, shading the initial stages but Valletta refused to be overwhelmed.
For long swathes, this duel resembled a fight between two battling but bruised heavyweights who struggled to land decisive punches before Fenech finally applied the KO blow.
Valletta, the FA Trophy holders, faced an uphill struggle before kick-off after losing key defenders Jonathan Caruana and Steve Borg, not to mention their perennial lack of firepower up front, but they deserve credit for raising their performance as the game progressed.
They also had a number of good opportunities to break the deadlock, especially in the first half of extra-time, but their hopes were shattered when Fenech snaffled the ball home from close range after Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit had moved to strengthen his team’s attacking threat with the introduction of Nassir Maachi.
Fenech’s goal ensured that Birkirkara remain in contention to win the KO for the first time since 2008 as they will contest Saturday’s final against the winner of today’s clash between champions Hibernians and Qormi.
Birkirkara had begun in 4-1-4-1 fashion with Brazilian Rafael Ledesma spearheading the attack in front of the attacking midfield duo of Muscat and Ryan Scicluna as the onus of protecting the back four fell on Matheus Bissi.
Deprived of two of his first-choice defenders, Caruana and Borg, Valletta coach Ivan Zammit moved Ryan Camilleri into the centre of defence with Roderick Briffa dropping to right back.
Lateef Elford-Alliyu’s on-going fitness issues left Zammit with no option but to field Tunisian winger Abdelkarim Nafti and Gambian midfielder Hamza Barry up front with Shaun Bajada on the left wing.
The early stages belonged to Birkirkara.
Camilleri rescued Valletta from a potentially dangerous situation as he moved swiftly to clear the ball away from Edward Herrera inside the six-yard box. Camenzuli was wide after eight minutes as the Stripes remained on front foot.
Valletta did show signs of improvement as the first half wore on but Birkirkara remained the brighter side.
Nicky Vella, back in Valletta’s goal in place of the suspended Pietro Marino, saved an effort from Herrera who, moments later, was first to Zach Muscat’s cross from the right but his header was too central to quicken the City goalkeeper’s pulse.
Midway into the first half, Barry tricked his way into the box from the right, exchanging passes with Nafti, but his drive was blocked.
The game remained finely-poised but creative football was proving hard to come by.
Danger loomed for Birkirkara when Bajada pounced on a mistake inside the box but his cross came off Joseph Zerafa before Haber lunged forward to quell the danger
Valletta’s initial efforts had been short of inspiration as their most creative elements, the likes of captain Ryan Fenech and Nafti, were struggling to make an impact.
Just before the end of the first half, Nafti dragged in a dangerous cross from a free-kick but Haber made himself big.
As referee Fyodor Zammit signalled the end of the first half, tempers rose as visibly incensed Birkirkara official Peter Busuttil was seen remonstrating with Valletta defender Luke Dimech who had earlier been involved in a confrontation with Rowen Muscat.
A speculative shot by Nafti, six minutes into the second half, was indicative of Valletta’s toils to make headway in attack, a recurrent flaw this season. Nafti’s weak effort was easily saved by Haber.
Miscued passes and scrappy football continued to mar this encounter. Camenzuli at last delivered the first moment of genuine quality. Running on to a long ball, Camenzuli sped clear of the back-tracking City defenders before unleashing a sizzling drive that was parried away by Vella.
The two coaches made an attacking change as Elford-Alliyu came on for Cremona and Brazilian striker Liliu replaced Bissi.
Liliu took over from Ledesma in attack as the latter dropped behind with Elford-Alliyu doing likewise for Valletta.
A mistake by Camilleri had Valletta in a spot of bother as the tenacious Scicluna dispossessed the dithering City defender before crossing towards the far post. The ball landed at the feet of the unmarked Camenzuli but the latter miscued his cross.
Camilleri was culpable again, this time surrendering possession to Herrera in the inside-right channel but the Birkirkara winger’s grounder was parried away by Vella.
Birkirkara ran up a head of steam. Ledesma’s corner, from the right, spread panic in the City box as the ball soared above Vella and towards Liliu but the latter’s close-range effort was warded off by Hillary Ikenna.
With Valletta looking vulnerable under pressure, the Stripes fashioned another chance through Zach Muscat who was unguarded when the ball reached him at the far post but his cross found no takers.
Liliu headed over from Rowen Muscat’s cross but Valletta rallied.
Fenech shifted this way and that to create space for a shot but his angled effort was touched away by Haber.
At long last, the game livened up with the fans also finding their voice. Bajada traded passes with Ikenna but the former curled his shot wide.
Elford-Alliyu spurned a good opportunity, taking a heavy touch after being sent clear by Nafti.
There was also a scare for Valletta as, from Ledesma’s left-wing corner, Zach Muscat’s powerful header grazed the post.
Camilleri was having a torrid game, shooting straight at Liliu who swooped on the loose ball but his shot was off target.
The Malta defender redeemed himself in stoppage time as he threw his body in the way of Liliu’s shot after the latter had been released by Ledesma.
The game drifted into extra-time. After three minutes, Elford-Alliyu held off Mauricio Mazzetti with the ball squirming invitingly to Nafti whose swerving grounder drew a fine save from Haber.
At the other end, Ledesma was first to a loose ball after a City clearance was charged down but the Brazilian’s shot was repelled by Luke Dimech.
The rate of scoring chances increased.
Elford-Alliyu made inroads on the right before laying the ball to Barry who spooned his shot over the bar.
Haber then tipped away Bajada’s cross, from a corner and Mazzetti cleared Nafti’s cross as the Whites shifted through the gears.
When the second half of extra-time started, Herrera fired over from outside the box after the Citizens had partially cleared a Ledesma corner.
Birkirkara struck on 110 minutes. The danger came from the left as Liliu’s cross found Zach Muscat who nodded the ball into the six-yard box and Fenech was on hand to tuck the ball home despite Dimech’s desperate attempt to block.
The Stripes faithful were ecstatic.
Zammit played his last cards, throwing on Dutch striker Djamel Leeflang and Christian Caruana, but Birkirkara held on to keep their KO dream alive.
Birkirkara
J. Haber, M. Bissi (62 Liliu), N. Vukanac, M. Mazzetti, J. Zerafa (108 N. Maachi), Z. Muscat, R. Ledesma, E. Herrera, R. Muscat, R. Camenzuli, R. Scicluna (83 P. Fenech).
Valletta
N. Vella, I. Azzopardi, R. Camilleri, R. Fenech, H. Barry, R. Briffa, H. Ikenna (114 D. Leeflang), S. Bajada (117 C. Caruana), L. Cremona (60 L. Elford Alliyu), A. Nafti, L. Dimech.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Scicluna; R. Fenech; Ledesma; Nafti; Ikenna; Mazzetti, Dimech.
Attendance: 2,205.