BIRKIRKARA 1

Rolovic 49

SLIEMA WANDERERS 1

Temile 62

(Birkirkara win 3-2 on penalties)

Penalty sequence M. Scerri (S) misses 0-0; E. Herrera (B) misses 0-0; E. Agius (S) misses 0-0; S. Dimitrov (B) scores 0-1; M. Muchardi (S) misses 0-1; W. Acosta (B) scores 0-2; F. Temile (S) scores 1-2; R. Scicluna (B) misses 1-2; M. Sansone (S) scored 2-2; M. Andjelkovic (B) scores 2-3. 

Birkirkara needed a thrilling penalty shoot-out to seal a place in the FA Trophy final which enables them to clinch a Europa League spot after they finished fourth in the Premier League and the other semi-finalists, Valletta and Balzan, have already qualified to Europe. 

The Stripes will be aiming to clinch their sixth Trophy, a competition which they lifted in the 2014/2015 season after defeating Hibernians, when they face the winner of Sunday's semi-final between Valletta and Balzan.

After a goalless first half, Birkirkara opened the account immediately after the change of ends.

Edward Herrera rushed all the way on the right flank before sending an inviting ball into the box. Ongjen Rolovic connected with his distribution to hit the ball into the base of the net and net his eight goal for the Stripes since joining the club last January. 

Sliema were finding it difficult to impose their game but somehow, the Blues managed to restore parity on 62 minutes.

Lucas Maia was ahead of Temile as he was protecting the ball but the latter managed to snatch it from the Brazilian’s legs, went one on one in front of Naumovski and with a delightful lob he sparked celebrations among the Sliema supporters. 

Sliema enjoyed the lions’ share of possession but lacked structure to capitalise on it as the winner had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. 

Birkirkara prevailed 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out with Naumovski producing two saves on Mark Scerri and Mattias Muchardi while Edward Herrera and Ryan Scicluna missed for the Stripes.

Mislav Andjelkovic hit the winning penalty for Birkirkara.