BIRKIRKARA                         2

Jorginho 47, 71 pen.

ĦAMRUN SPARTANS              1

Tulimieri 12

Birkirkara are safely through to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy when they had the better of Ħamrun Spartans 2-1.

It was Ħamrun who took the lead after 12 minutes.

Tulimieri played a fine one-two with Calil and the Italian midfielder kept his cool to chip the ball over the onrushing Naumovski.

The Stripes responded a minute later when Jorginho connected to Vella’s cross but headed wide.

As the minutes passed, Birkirkara continued to increase their possession percentage but were struggling to make any inroads into the Ħamrun defence.

Instead it was Ħamrun who came close two minutes from the break when Calil sent a cross at the far post and Wilfried Domoraud headed just wide.

Birkirkara started the second half with more verve and they took just two minutes to draw level.

Ħamrun goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo made a hash in his attempt to intercept a pass towards Jorginho and the Brazilian striker did well to push the ball into an empty net.

Ħamrun tried to respond and on 57 minutes Domoraud again met Tulimieri’s cross but his header finished over.

Jorginho threatened again ten minutes later but this time Bartolo was alert.

From the resultant penalty, Jorginho was adjudged to have held Pepe and referee pointed to the spot.

Jorginho stepped up and smashed the ball home.

Ħamrun almost replied instantly but Domoraud’s header was somehow kept out by Naumovski with the aid of the upright.