Marsaxlokk 1
Birkirkara 2
There was no escaping the feeling yesterday that Birkirkara's revival of late could pay rich dividends as the season enters the final straight.
Having forced their way back into the title reckoning with an extraordinary run of five wins and a draw in the Championship Pool, Birkirkara yesterday joined Valletta, Floriana and Hamrun Spartans in the last four of the FA Trophy after a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Marsaxlokk.
As happened in their last league meeting, Marsaxlokk grabbed an early lead, too early perhaps, as Carlo Mamo scored inside the opening two minutes, but Birkirkara roared back to seize the initiative and send their shell-shocked opponents tumbling with two second-half goals.
Birkirkara's victory was deserved as, bar a spell early in the first half, John Buttigieg's troops played the more elaborate football and created a hatful of opportunities only to be denied by a string of fine saves from goalkeeper Reuben Debono.
Marsaxlokk's hopes of progressing to the last four had received a boost as Cleaven Frendo was certified fit to play from the start after completing his recovery from an ankle injury.
Brian Talbot, the Marsaxlokk coach, was not in a position to send out his strongest line-up due to the absences of Julio Alcorse, Gareth Sciberras and Charlò Magro.
Adrian Ciantar and Lino Galea were the two notable absentees from Birkirkara's squad but Buttigieg opted to start with Lee Lombardi at right-back instead of Thomas Paris. Midfielder Alan Tabone also reclaimed a starting role at the expense of Martin Anastasi.
Just over a minute from kick-off had elapsed when Marsaxlokk opened the scoring. Frendo's free-kick triggered a melee in the Birkirkara box and Carlo Mamo duly capitalised by flicking the ball past Omar Borg at the far post.
Shocked by that early breakthrough, Birkirkara took some time to find their feet but after seven minutes, they came close to restoring parity.
Davy Amed Sylla's run caught Marsaxlokk on the backfoot but the striker's attempt from inside the box was repelled by Debono. The ball rolled to Tabone but his shot was touched away by the back-tracking Marsaxlokk keeper.
Birkirkara fans screamed "penalty" when Mifsud Triganza went down in the box after being slightly pushed by William Camenzuli but referee Marco Borg was unimpressed. Marsaxlokk had the ball in the net after 10 minutes, Aleksandar Madzar heading home from another Frendo free-kick but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Birkirkara survived another scare when Frendo attacked the uncovered space on the left and gunned for goal but his shot cannoned off the post.
Proceedings early on were lively as both teams showed an inclination for attacking football.
Two minutes shy of the half hour, Birkirkara threatened to make it 1-1 when Tabone's free-kick was met by Mifsud Triganza whose header was blocked by the Marsaxlokk defence.
The short clearance fell to Paul Fenech but his attempt to lift the ball over Debono ended over the bar.
Five minutes later, Debono denied the Stripes an equaliser as he flung himself to the right to paw away Tabone's free-kick.
Birkirkara pummelled the Marsaxlokk defence as the first half drew to a close. That the Blues managed to hold on to their slim advantage was only due to Debono who pulled off two fine saves from headers by Birkirkara's Ronnie Hartvig.
The Stripes were disappointed that their pressure didn't reap the desired rewards but their frustration abated soon after the restart.
Six minutes into the second half, Sylla set off another powerful run through the middle, side-stepped Renato Conceicao and let fly a rising shot that beat Debono hands down, much to the delight of their fans.
Sylla's fine strike bolstered Birkirkara's morale but Marsaxlokk held firm initially. Two minutes past the hour, a piledriver by Fenech sailed over the bar but the Stripes deservedly surged ahead 20 minutes from time, Mifsud Triganza extending his rich scoring vein when beating Debono with a perfectly-weighted shot from the edge of the area.
Five minutes later, Sylla, a constant threat to the shaky Marsaxlokk defence, ought to have sealed victory for Birkirkara when Lombardi's long pass landed at his feet inside the box. The Ivorian did well to slip his marker but his curler from close distance flew wide of the far post.
One expected Marsaxlokk to fight back but Birkirkara's tenacity and attacking flair helped them retain a clear edge. Tabone skewed his effort high and wide.
Four minutes from the end, Mifsud Triganza should have killed Marsaxlokk's hopes but he shot straight at Debono after getting on the end of a long pass from midfield. In stoppage time, Marsaxlokk almost sent the game into extra-time but Peter Pullicino's shot, following a right-wing cross and run by Camenzuli, took a deflection and bounced across the face of goal.
Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, S. Wellman ('76 S. Tellus), W. Camenzuli, R. Conceicao, C. Mamo, P. Pullicino, J. Pace, K. Sammut, C. Frendo ('72 M. Barbara), M. Licari, A. Madzar.
Birkirkara: O. Borg, L. Lombardi, J. Zerafa, R. Hartvig, E. Yanchev, P. Fenech, G. Mallia, S. Bajada, A. Tabone ('82 A. Zahra), J.P. Mifsud Triganza ('90 M. Anastasi), D.A. Sylla ('76 M. Galea).
Referee: Marco Borg.
Scorers: Mamo 2; Sylla 51; Mifsud Triganza 70.
Yellow cards: Pace; Lombardi; Frendo.