Hibernians 2
Valletta 1

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A tetchy and slow-burning encounter erupted in the final 21 minutes as Valletta and Hibs intensified their efforts in hot pursuit of a place in the final of the 2007 FA Trophy.

Valletta had drawn first blood through David Camilleri but Hibs, inspired by the second-half introduction of Nigerian forward Ndubisi Chukunyere, roared back to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

There was little between the two teams but the individual brilliance of Andrew Cohen, the strong finishing of Terrence Scerri and tireless performances from Andre Rocha Da Silva and Pablo Doffo in the middle, swung the balance in the Paolites' favour.

Cohen levelled the scores on 69 minutes and Scerri applied the killer touch in the final stages to leave Valletta's optimistic bid of ending their long trophy drought in tatters.

Besides reaching their second FA Trophy final in succession, Hibs have also strengthened their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

Only success in the KO would guarantee them a place in Europe after having finished fifth in the league.

As for Valletta, all they can hope for now is a place in the Intertoto Cup and that depends on Sliema Wanderers winning the FA Trophy.

The Blues meet Msida St Joseph in the second semi-final tomorrow.

Yesterday's tie clearly elicited maximum interest among the two sets of fans. The most ardent supporters of both Valletta and Hibs made their way to the National Stadium more than an hour before kick-off but their early journey to Ta' Qali had a purpose.

The recently-founded Paola Boys Hibs Ultras were clearly intent on raising their profile as they decorated their section of the main stand with giant flags and banners while several fans waved black and white flags and balloons.

At the other side of the enclosure, the hordes of Valletta supporters, spearheaded by their hard-core White Warriors group, also unfurled huge streamers and colourful flags. White and red balloons were also released into the air when the teams emerged from the tunnel while flares and smoke cans didn't go amiss either.

Paul Zammit and Robert Gatt, the coaches of Valletta and Hibs respectively, sent out their strongest formations.

Cohen and Scerri were charged with the onus of leading the Hibs attack as Ndubisi Chukunyere had to content himself with a place on the substitutes' bench.

For Valletta, Richmar Siberie flanked Ian Zammit up front with skipper Gilbert Agius detailed to pursue openings in the proverbial hole behind the two strikers.

Five minutes from the start of the game had expired when Massimo Grima, confirmed at centre-back by Zammit, did well to spot Dyson Falzon's run on the left and duly served him. The eventual shot by the City winger flew wide of the far post.

The opening minutes of the game were generally bereft of meaningful action as no quarter was given by the two teams. Grima became the first player to go into the referee's book for a late challenge on Scerri just outside the penalty area.

Brazilian midfielder Da Silva was the most enterprising and lively player in the centre with his fusion of power and speed.

On 26 minutes, he pounced on a loose ball just inside the Valletta box but his effort came off Grima's body.

After another interlude of uninspiring football, Valletta managed to break the deadlock eight minutes from the end of the first half.

Having been awarded a free-kick just outside the semi-circle after Edmond Agius was adjudged to have tripped Agius, a host of City players gathered around the ball but David Camilleri caught Hibs, particularly goalkeeper Mario Muscat, unawares by curling the ball beyond the defensive wall and into the left corner of the net.

Valletta's opener was reminiscent of Manchester United's controversial netting in their Champions League KO away win over French club Lille earlier this year and as happened then, the goal was allowed to stand by referee Paul Caruana despite Hibs' protests.

The Citizens might have extended their cushion but efforts from Falzon and Zammit missed the target by a whisker.

The high tension on the field of play led to a succession of physical challenges at the start of the second half but flowing football remained elusive.

Ten minutes after the restart, Clayton Failla mustered a looping cross-shot that sailed menacingly towards goal but Saviour Darmanin was well-placed to grab the ball.

A minute short of the hour Robert Gatt effected his first substitution, bringing on Chukunyere for midfielder Agius.

The introduction of an attacking-minded player like Chukunyere instead of a defensive midfielder brought about some positional changes in the Hibs team as the Nigerian took up an attacking role alongside Scerri and Cohen dropped into midfield.

The Paolites managed to get back on level terms 21 minutes from time. Their goal owed as much to the perseverance of Doffo as to Cohen's exquisite co-ordination.

Retrieving possession with a crunching but fair tackle on Zammit, Doffo quickly picked himself up to charge down the inside-left channel before swinging over a tantalising cross towards the centre of the penalty area where the advancing Cohen somehow leapt back to direct a glancing header past the diving Darmanin. One-all.

Zammit's response to Hibs' equaliser was to withdraw the ineffective Siberie for Dylan Zarb.

In the meantime, Da Silva suffered a head wound in an aerial duel and was stretchered away. The South American returned a few minutes later sporting a bandage around his head.

The force was now with Hibernians and after a free-kick by Cohen bounced just wide of the far post, Gatt's men hit the jackpot three minutes from time.

Latching onto Chukunyere's lofted pass from the right, Scerri made the most of the unplugged space in the City defence by rifling a rising shot past Darmanin.

In stoppage time, Darmanin surged upfield to help his team-mates in attack but Hibs defended stoutly to hold on to their slender lead.

Outside the stadium, minor skirmishes broke out between the two sets of fans but order was soon restored by the police and security personnel.

Hibs: M. Muscat, J. Caruana, A. Xuereb, P. Doffo, A. Cohen, M. Bartolo, C. Failla, T. Scerri, E. Agius ('59 N. Chukunyere), A. Rocha Da Silva, K. Cassar.

Valletta: S. Darmanin, S. Bez-zina, B. Nisevic, M. Grima, R. Forace, I. Zammit, D. Camilleri, U. Edafe, D. Falzon, G. Agius, R. Siberie ('77 D. Zarb).

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Scorers: Camilleri 37; Cohen 69; Scerri 87.

Yellow cards: Grima; Rocha Da Silva; Muscat; Xuereb; Forace; Edafe; Cohen.