Holders through

Tarxien Rainbows 1
Birkirkara 2

FA Trophy holders Birkirkara are through to the semi-finals after ousting Tarxien Rainbows in a lively tie at the Hibs Ground.

First-half goals from Angus Buhagiar and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza put Birkirkara on their way even though the Stripes had to endure some anxious moments late on when they had Mifsud Triganza sent off just before Daniel Mariano Bueno had pulled a goal back for the Rainbows.

Birkirkara were off to a flier and after only three minutes John Buttigieg's men went ahead. They were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Mifsud Triganza and Joseph Zerafa's inswinger found Angus Buhagiar whose dipping header flew into the net with goalkeeper Anthony Curmi beaten.

The goal hit the Rainbows hard. They struggled to stage a reaction as Birkirkara held the initiative and Mifsud Triganza had two claims for a penalty waved on by referee Adrian Azzopardi.

On 23 minutes, Shaun Bajada should have doubled the Stripes' lead but with only Curmi to beat he shot straight into the Tarxien goalkeeper. However, three minutes later Birkirkara did score again.

Mifsud Triganza robbed the ball from Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and beat the advancing Curmi with a well-placed shot.

Buhagiar again went close three minutes from the interval when he ended a surging run with a curling shot that finished just over.

On 44 minutes, the Rainbows should have re-opened the issue when Ryan Grech's cross was misjudged by Birkirkara goalkeeper Bernard Paris but neither Emerson De Lima nor Bueno could manage to hit home from in front of an open goal.

After the interval, Tarxien coach Noel Coleiro looked to add more firepower to his team's attacking line when he roped in Warren Chircop in lieu of Manuel Caruana.

Bueno almost got a goal for his team but his powerful drive flew just wide of the far post.

On 57 minutes, the Rainbows were unlucky when David Camilleri was stopped by the woodwork after his inswinger from a corner hit the upright with Paris beaten.

Six minutes later, Michael Galea should have put the result beyond the Rainbows' reach when he was put through by Trevor Cilia but the Stripes' forward incredibly failed to connect with the ball with a gaping goal at his mercy.

Birkirkara's stride was somewhat halted on 83 minutes when Mifsud Triganza was handed a straight red card after a clash with Steve Sadowski.

Tarxien soon made numerical advantage count as a minute later Bueno stole possession in the Stripes box before hitting home past Paris.

Coleiro urged his players to push more forward in search of an equaliser but the Birkirkara defence kept its composure to preserve the lead and move a match away from a second successive appearance in the final.

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Curmi, S. Sadowski, M. Caruana ('46 W. Chircop), C. Gatt Baldacchino, K. Borg ('65 O. Grech), E. De Lima, M. Tanti ('78 J. Shead), D. Camilleri, R. Schembri, D.M. Bueno, R. Grech.

Birkirkara
B. Paris, I. Sokolov, S. Bajada ('72 J. Holland), T. Cilia, R. Hartvig, P. Fenech, G. Mallia, A. Buhagiar, M. Galea ('78 K. Mihailov), J. Zerafa, J.P. Mifsud Triganza.

Scorers: Bueno 84 (TR); Buhagiar 3; Mifsud Triganza 26 (B)

Referee Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow cards Zerafa, Mifsud Triganza.

Red card Mifsud Triganza (B) 83.