HIBERNIANS 2
Sahanek 11, Mbong 20
VALLETTA 3
Kaljevic 72, 102, Pulis 84
(after extra-time)
After the penalty shoot-out determined the BOV Premier League title in Saturday’s Championship Decider, this time, extra-time was necessary to determine which team would make it to the final four of the FA Trophy as Valletta defeated ten-man Hibernians by the odd goal in five.
Valletta take on Gżira United in Sunday’s semi-final as they hope to stay on track for a second successive double.
Hibs forged ahead on 11 minutes. Marco Sahanek exchanged the ball with Timothy Tabone Desira on the left, inside the area, before slotting the ball past Bonello.
Nine minutes later, the Paolites doubled the score. Bjorn Kristensen sent Taylon through on the right and off the latter’s assist, Joseph Mbong placed the ball at the back of the net.
Four minutes from the end of the first half, Henry Bonello was superb in neutralising a fine Marco Sahanek freekick from the right with Steve Borg deflecting the ball into a corner. Just before half-time, a goal by Kaljevic for Valletta was disallowed for an offside.
Five minutes in the second half, Hibs were reduced to ten men as Marcelo Dias was sent off by referee Stefan Pace for serious foul play on Bogdan Gavrila.
On the hour, there was a short clearance by Sahanek following a Bogdan Gavrila corner from the right but Mario Fontanella hit high from an ideal position. Two minutes later, Marko Jovicic came to the rescue, anticipating Bojan Kaljevic following an inviting cross by Fontanella.
The Citizens were now in control and on 65 minutes, following a cross from the right by Enmy Pena Beltre, Gavrila‘s effort was turned into a corner in style by the Hibernians goalkeeper.
Valletta reduced the gap on 72 minutes. Bojan Kaljevic received a cross from the right by captain Steve Borg, hitting low past Jovicic.
Six minutes from time, Valletta notched the equaliser when off a Fontanella freekick from the left, substitute Nicholas Pulis’s powerful header beat the Hibs custodian and Tiago could do nothing to block his attempt.
The game went into extra-time and twelve minutes in the first half of extra-time, Valletta went 3-2 ahead. Kaljevic flicked the ball home past Jovicic following a cross by Fontanella from the left.
Two minutes from the end of the second half of extra-time, Gabrila could have added another when he concluded a good move with a low shot from the edge of the area which was parried by the Hibernians goalkeeper but a minute later, Kristensen was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a header following a Marco Sahanek freekick from the right.