BALZAN-0, SLIEMA WANDERERS-0
(AET - Sliema win 5-4 on penalties)
Sliema Wanderers ended their seven-year wait to win an honour after edging Balzan in a dramatic FA Trophy final this evening.
A tight final had failed to produce a goal after 120 minutes but the Blues emerged on top in the penalty shoot-out after converting their five penalties while Balzan managed four with captain Dylan Grima seeing his tame shot blocked by Entonjo Elezaj, the Sliema goalkeeper.
The final had offered little excitement as scoring chances were rare but Sliema showed great character as they held off Balzan despite having Cameroonian winger Njongo Priso sent off seven minutes before the end of normal time.
Clifford Gatt Baldacchino scored the decisive penalty to send the Sliema fans into raptures as the Wanderers extended their record in the FA Trophy to 21 wins and, in so doing, crushed Balzan's hopes of claiming their first major honour.
Both teams had chances to go ahead in the first half but the score remained goalless.
In the early stages, a long ball towards Sliema striker Denni had Balzan goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic sprinting off his line to head the ball away from the Brazilian.
Latching on to another long pass, Njongo Priso had the better of Clive Brincat as the former Valletta winger drifted across the byline and into the box but Janjusevic snuffed out the danger.
There was little between the two teams in the opening minutes.
A speculative shot by Peter Xuereb, after Balzan had cleared a cross from the right, was wide.
A cross from Balzan's Steve Bezzina turned into a goalbound attempt after taking a deflection off Alex Muscat with the ball coming off the outside of the near post. Kaljevic then rifled wide from Effiong's assist.
Neither side managed to gain control but Balzan had a golden chance to take the lead on 35 minutes. A length raid had the Sliema rearguard on the backfoot as Elkin Serrano released Micallef who had time and space to shoot from inside the box. Elezaj blocked Micallef's first effort and his follow-up attempt was also stopped, this time by Bianciardi.
Another brilliant chance came Sliema's way moments later as Priso sped into the box from the right but he was twice denied by Janjusevic.
A fluid move produced another chance for the Blues as Priso passed to Denni who pulled it back towards Muscat who swept into the box from the right only to curl his shot wide.
Balzan should have scored on the stroke of half-time as Justin Grioli's inswinging cross, from a free-kick, flew towards Serrano in the six-yard box but the Colombian headed wide.
Alan Da Silva Souza, who had just come on for Kaljevic, teed up Effiong who rifled wide.
The second half took a while to come to life.
Then two chances fell to Balzan but Effiong blasted high and Micallef's low effort was stopped by Elezaj.
For Sliema, Johann Bezzina miscued his shot from Priso's cross.
Seven minutes from time, Sliema finished with 10 men after Priso earned two quick bookings for protests and was sent off.
In stoppage time, Sliema almost won it but Farrugia's angled drive was wide.
Despite their numerical advantage, Balzan failed to trouble the organised Sliema defence whose efforts sent the game into penalties.