A maiden appearance in the final of the FA Trophy, and a meeting with record cup winners Sliema Wanderers, beckons Balzan and Pembroke Athleta who face off in the second semi-final this evening at the National Stadium (kick-off 5pm).
Balzan, who have already sealed a place in next season’s Europa League on the back of their fourth-place finish in the league, are regarded as favourites but they are unlikely to dismiss the threat posed by Pembroke Athleta who have ruffled a few feathers in their first season among the big boys.
Oliver Spiteri, the Balzan coach, envisages a tough encounter for his team.
“This is a big game for us, a do-or-die clash,” Spiteri told The Sunday Times of Malta.
“It’s also a milestone for the club as Balzan had never advanced to the FA Trophy semi-finals.
“On paper, we start as favourites but the game will be anything but easy because we are aware of Pembroke’s strength.
“ They have taken points off the top three teams in the Premier League and knocked Hibernians out of the FA Trophy.
“We need to play intelligently but also from the heart.”
Spiteri was effusive in his praise for Winston Muscat, his Pembroke Athleta counterpart who has done a very good job with the Premier League debutants this season.
“I have a lot of admiration for Winston Muscat,” Spiteri said. “He is a very good coach and a great friend.”
Lydon Micallef, whose extra-time winner secured Balzan’s passage to the semi-finals, is suspended after his sending-off in the quarter-final against Tarxien but otherwise Spiteri can bank on a full roster.
The Balzan coach singled out Pembroke’s fast transition and ability to push forward with speed as their main strengths.
“Pembroke’s transition is very effective,” Spiteri said. “They close the gaps well but know how to switch quickly from defence to attack, especially through the runs of the likes of Mano Micallef, Ariel Laudisi, Siraj Arab and Gustavo Villalobos.
“They can be very dangerous if they catch the opposing team off balance because their players know how to attack the spaces.”
Pembroke’s progress to the semi-finals of the KO competition has added a layer of sheen to a positive year that saw the Premier League newcomers secure their top-flight status with two games to spare.
Although Pembroke have exceeded expectations, Muscat is not prepared to rest on his laurels and expects his players to do the same.
“After reaching our target, the players relaxed a bit, which is normal,” Muscat said.
“Securing our Premier League status lifted all the pressure from our shoulders, the technical staff included, but now it’s important that we put our heads into this semi-final and I’m sure we will approach it in the right frame of mind.
“What we have done so far is good but it’s not enough. This is our philosophy.
“If we can reach the final of the FA Trophy, we must go for it.”
Stifling Balzan’s attacking prowess is key to Pembroke’s hopes of prevailing in today’s semi-final.
“Balzan have no weaknesses,” Muscat said. “They have strong players, starting from the goalkeeper (Ivan Janjusevic) right through to their strikers.
“They have a formidable forward line with players like Alfred Effiong, Alan da Silva Souza and Pedrinho who can hurt any team.
“We have to be very cautious.”
Apart from being a clash between two teams making their first appearance in the last four of the FA Trophy, today’s tie also pits two friends against each other.
“We have done all the coaching courses together,” Muscat said of Spiteri, his Balzan counterpart. “Our relationship is based on mutual respect. We have spent a lot of time together this week. Yes, we are great friends but on the pitch, we are opponents.”
Balzan will take heart from their head-to-head record against Pembroke as they have beaten them twice, 5-1 and 2-1, while the second-round meeting ended goalless.