Marsaxlokk 1
Kokavessis 81
Sliema Wanderers 1
Muscat 79
(Sliema win 4-3 on pens)

A place in the final of the FA Trophy was up for grabs yesterday when Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk crossed swords at the National Stadium.

Valletta had cruised into the final after a straightforward 2-0 defeat of holders Birkirkara on Saturday but this semi-final didn't follow the same pattern as penalties were needed to determine a winner.

Marsaxlokk had not shown any ill-effects of their turbulent week for much of the tie but they found Sliema a hard nut to crack.

It was a slow-burning encounter with the two goals coming in the final 11 minutes of regular time.

After both teams squandered a golden chance to wrap things up in extra-time, the shoot-out saw Sliema through after Marcelo Pereira's second spot-kick for Marsaxlokk was parried by Henry Bonello and Kevin Sammut's decisive kick flew over the bar.

Bonello's save was indeed a crucial one for the Blues, who last reached the final two years ago, as it came immediately after the balance looked to have swayed Marsaxlokk's way when Ivan Woods's penalty was pawed away by Reuben Debono.

The game was 12 minutes old when Sliema fashioned their first scoring chance.

Roderick Bajada stormed through before passing to Woods who switched the ball to the advancing Alex Muscat on the right. The Malta wing-back tried to surprise Debono with a diagonal shot but his effort rolled wide of the far post.

Midway through the first half, Sammut's inviting cross from the right was met by the towering Julio Alcorse but his dipping header was high.

The Southerners should have taken the lead on 27 minutes when brisk movement by Pereira on the left went unchecked by Sliema. The Brazilian darted into the box before squaring to Alcorse but the latter hit wide after seemingly losing his balance when challenged by Ian Azzopardi.

Marsaxlokk kept their foot on the accelerator. Bonello denied them an opener when parrying Peter Pullicino's drive from the edge of the box.

Marsaxlokk shaded the latter stages of the first half but they rarely threatened to break the stalemate.

As for Sliema, their attacking threat was as good as nil for much of the opening half as their midfield lacked the flair and thrust to provide a steady supply of passes and crosses to Woods.

Early in the second half, Muscat produced a shot that was saved by Debono and at the other end, Pereira fired wide.

On the hour mark, Sliema came close to a breakthrough but Woods rifled wide after his initial effort had been repelled by Debono.

The paucity of scoring chances in the first half increased the yearning for more creative football after the break but by and large, the game remained a soporific affair.

Coach Stephen Azzopardi threw on Matthew Bartolo in place of the subdued Coto to try and liven up Sliema's attack. Patrick Curmi, of Marsaxlokk, responded by introducing Dylan Kokavessis for Alcorse.

After another tepid interlude, the deadlock was finally broken 11 minutes from time.

Branko Nisevic, who had come on for Furfaro, provided the decisive assist with a short pass to Muscat who fired an unstoppable volley past Debono.

The erstwhile muted Sliema fans suddenly began to make themselves heard but their joy lasted only two minutes, the time it took Marsaxlokk to level matters.

Cassar's cross from the right soared past a posse of players and towards Kokavessis who prodded past Bonello.

Sliema's predicament would have deepened but for a fine Bonello save on Pullicino's scorcher. Sciberras then finished off a surging run with a well-hit shot that brushed the outside of the Sliema post.

That was the last notable chance in regular time.

The first scoring opportunity in extra-time fell to Marsaxlokk when Pullicino teed up Sammut in the box only for the latter to send his shot out of range.

Woods did likewise, this time with an angled drive from just inside the box. Tiredness began to take its toll on both teams but Marsaxlokk showed fresher legs when the dynamic Cassar flicked a deft pass towards Sciberras who spooned his shot over the bar from a favourable position.

Sliema spurned an equally gilt-edged opportunity to forge ahead when, with six minutes of the second half gone, Bajada's free-kick fell to Nisevic who deflected the ball to Woods but the latter miscued his effort from point blank distance.

Marsaxlokk produced a late salvo but Sliema weathered the storm to force a shoot-out.

Marsaxlokk
R. Debono, M. Licari, C. Mamo ('105 C. Camilleri), G. Sciberras, B. Said, K. Sammut, P. Pullicino, J. Alcorse ('74 D. Kokavessis), W. Camenzuli, M. Pereira, C. Cassar.

Sliema Wanderers
H. Bonello, A. Muscat, I. Azzopardi, N. Turner, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, L. Dronca, V. Ortega Coto ('71 M. Bartolo), I. Ciantar, R. Bajada, S. Furfaro ('58 B. Nisevic).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Yellow cards: Alcorse; Ciantar; Licari.

Penalty sequence: Dronca (S) 1-0; Licari (M) 1-1; Woods (S) saved 1-1; Pereira (M) saved 1-1; Turner (S) 2-1; Kokavessis (M) 2-2; Bajada (S) 3-2; Camenzuli (M) 3-3; Chetcuti (S) 4-3; Sammut