Marsaxlokk 4
Mqabba 0
(after extra-time)
Marsaxlokk had to wait until the 102nd minute to finally pierce a stubborn nine-man Mqabba to stay on course for a league and cup double.
Malcolm Licari's goal signalled the opening of the floodgates and the end of the contest as the southseasiders scored three other goals in 10 minutes.
Clive Mizzi's side acquitted themselves in an organised and disciplined manner and limited Marsaxlokk to shots from the distance.
William Camenzuli was the main threat for the Mqabba defence as he tried his luck with powerful drives on several occasions.
But slowly and surely, Marsaxlokk upped the tempo and put their opponents under increasing pressure. Leighton Grech was played through by Licari only to see Kris Calleja making a smart save.
Just before the interval, Mqabba went close as Mark Gauci struck the ball on the volley, aiming for the far post. Clive Brincat dived in and made a key block, sending the ball out for a corner.
Mqabba were lucky to escape earlier in the second half when Patrick Borg cleared off the line after a goalmouth scramble.
Marsaxlokk continued to dictate play but they rarely looked like turning their dominance into a winner.
On 62 minutes, Mark Anthony Psaila hauled down Dylan Kokavessis and, having been booked for the same offence earlier, he was sent off.
Rumen Galabov went close but he should have done much better with a free header that he directed wide.
Mqabba were reduced to nine men in the closing stages when Calleja got a hand to the ball just outside the box.
Substitute goalkeeper Marco Catania made his presence felt with a fine save to stop a goal-bound effort from Kokavessis and the game went into extra time.
The Blues surged forward and Gary Caruana's left-wing cross found Licari whose sliced shot looped the ball over the stranded keeper and into the back of the net.
Marsaxlokk put the match beyond their opponents' reach on 114 minutes when a slick one-two led to Kokavessis flicking a return volley into Caruana's path and the young midfielder coolly slid the ball home.
Galabov then collected a pass on the edge of the area and lashed a fierce volley into the bottom corner to make it 3-0. There was still time for Kokavessis to poke home Marsaxlokk's fourth just before the final whistle.
Marsaxlokk: G. Zammit, T. Templeman ('88 G. Caruana), W. Camenzuli, C. Brincat, E. Yanchev, G. Sciberras, F. Raimy, R. Galabov, M. Deanov ('29 D. Kokavessis), M. Licari, L. Grech ('95 P. Pullicino).
Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, M.A. Psaila, S. Magro, M. Gauci ('90 C. Calleja), J. Debattista, O. Grech ('106 J.P. Muscat), V. Cauchi ('85 M. Catania), M. Anastasi.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
Man of the match: William Camenzuli (Marsaxlokk).
Other semi-final
Tuesday (Tedesco Stadium): 19.00 St Patrick vs St George's.