The thoroughbreds and newcomers were kept apart in the FA Trophy semi-final draw yesterday as holders Birkirkara will meet 20-time cup winners Sliema Wanderers while Balzan were paired with Pembroke Athleta in a clash between two clubs who have reached the last four of the competition for the first time.
Birkirkara’s qualification to the semi-finals had been in the balance after Floriana challenged the legitimacy of the Stripes’ 2-0 quarter-final victory last week.
The Malta FA Protests Board’s decision to turn down Floriana’s complaint on Tuesday night cleared the way for Birkirkara to take part in yesterday’s draw.
Having seen off Valletta and Floriana in the previous two rounds, Birkirkara will fancy their chances of winning their sixth FA Trophy but Sliema Wanderers also have high hopes of claiming their first major honour since lifting the famous cup in 2009.
Birkirkara, who have hit top form in these closing stages of the season, have a 100 per cent record against Sliema this year, winning their three league encounters 3-1, 2-0 and 2-1.
The semi-final between Birkirkara and Sliema, who overcame St Andrew’s in the quarter-finals, will take place on May 7 while the Balzan-Pembroke tie will be played the following day, both at the National Stadium.
The winners of this year’s KO will be the last to lay their hands on the prestigious old cup which is being retired at the end of this season to make way for a new silver trophy.
In keeping with tradition, the English FA, who had donated the current trophy to their Maltese counterparts back in 1933, have agreed to finance the new cup which is being designed by renowned silversmiths Thomas Lyte.
Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA general secretary who conducted yesterday’s draw together with Rodney Pisani, revealed that the FA trophy was flown to England earlier this week as Thomas Lyte wanted to have a close look at its features in order to incorporate them in the design of the new silverware.
The new trophy will be launched in the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup qualifier between England and Malta on October 8.
Both Balzan, who needed an extra-time Lydon Micallef goal to down Tarxien Rainbows in the quarter-finals, and Pembroke, 3-1 winners over Pietà Hotspurs last week, will be going all out to reach the May 14 final and improve their chances of winning the first major honour in their history.
Although, on paper, the big-spending Balzan look to have an edge over Pembroke, the latter have proved time and again that they can be a hard nut to crack for any team in the top flight.
Balzan lead the head-to-head record after beating Pembroke twice in the championship this season, 5-1 and 2-1, while the second-round encounter ended goalless.
Semi-finals draw
May 7 (National Stadium, 5pm)
Sliema Wanderers vs Birkirkara
May 8 (National Stadium, 5pm)
Balzan vs Pembroke Athleta
Final – May 14 (5pm)